[Acidreign]

BERLIN, March 4 (Reuters) -

Seven times Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher said it was unlikely motorcycling world champion Valentino Rossi would race alongside him at Ferrari in the 2007 season.

Italian Rossi, who has won motorcycling's top category for the past five years, recently tested a Ferrari Formula One car in Spain and earned a great deal of praise from the stable after performing well.

However, Germany's Schumacher said in an interview with daily Bild he did not expect to see Rossi and himself race together for Ferrari next year.

"To be perfectly honest, this is pretty improbable," he told the newspaper.

Asked if this was due to him retiring after this season, he added: "This has absolutely nothing to do with me."

The 2006 Formula One season opens next week in Bahrain.

((Reporting by Karin Strohecker; Editing by John O'Brien, Asia Sports Desk; Berlin newsroom +49 302888 5226))