Vale's Rally's

Rossi begins Rally GB with number 46
Friday, 05 December 2008

MotoGP World Champion to use customary number as WRC guest appearance begins.



Valentino Rossi may be in the confines of a Ford Focus car at this weekend´s WRC Rally GB event, but the 2008 MotoGP World Champion will be recognisable to motorcycle fans due to his customary number 46´s adorning the four wheeled machine.

Rossi began his latest guest rally appearance in a shakedown test on Thursday, placing 17th out of 21 riders in the Penllergaer Forest stage. The Italian today (Friday) begins the Rally GB proper, with the first stage taking place at Hafren. A further seven stages will follow, racking up a total of around 124 kilometres.

Rossi is using the number 46, which he has run throughout his racing career, after a charitable donation from Finnish driver Jari Ketomaa (the regular owner of the number in the WRC season). Ketomaa will instead use 146 this weekend.

`It was very important for me to get number 46 - Jari was very fair to give me the number,´ said Rossi on the Finn´s generosity. `I was car 46 on the two rallies I have done previously and I´ve never ridden a motorbike or driven a car in an official race without it.´

The Fiat Yamaha rider tested the Stobart-backed car before the recent Jerez test, although he does not feel totally prepared for the event in Wales. `We have only done one day of testing in the UK, about three weeks ago, and that´s not a lot, so our testing will continue in the race. We need to make a few kilometres to understand the car, and then we´ll see,´ he analyses.

`My goal is to have fun and finish. At the end of New Zealand (his previous rally runout, in 2006) in some stages I was about two seconds per kilometre off (WRC star) Marcus Gronholm´s pace. My target is to try and get as close to the leaders again here.´

Rossi recently finished runner-up in the annual Monza Rally event in his native Italy.

MotoGP » Rossi gains ground at Rally GB.
Friday, 5th December 2008

Valentino Rossi rises from 45th to 26th after stage six of Wales Rally GB.

MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi improved his pace, and overall ranking, during stages five and six on the opening day of Wales Rally GB.

The weather in the Welsh forests was so bad that the Hafren stage, due to be run twice on Friday - as stage one and then stage four - was cancelled on both occasions due to the amount of ice present.

The rally thus began on stage two, when Rossi was just 45th fastest, before steering his Stobart-run Ford Focus WRC car up to 34th on stage three, during treacherous conditions described by the Italian as the worst he had ever driven a rally car in (see previous story).

Despite several 'moments', the eight time world champion upped his pace during stages five and six, when he set the 24th and 15th fastest stage times.

"It is still a bit tricky in there. There is a lot of water and mud. We lost the rear bumper too," said Rossi after stage five.

The #46 was particularly happy with his 15th place on stage six, the second run of the day through the 18.28km Myherin test, which he completed 21.6sec faster than he had this morning.

“We've improved our time through there a lot from this morning, so I'm really pleased," said Rossi.

Rossi now holds 26th position overall, 3min 4.6sec behind rally leader Jari-Matti Latvala, with only two runs through the short Walters Arena stage left before the conclusion of day one.

MotoGP » Rossi 24th after day one at Rally GB.
Friday, 5th December 2008

Valentino Rossi rises from 45th to 24th during day one of Wales Rally GB.

MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi was just 45th fastest after the opening stage of Wales Rally GB, but had improved his position to 24th by the end of a treacherous opening day.

Adverse weather conditions saw Friday's schedule reduced from a planned total of 123.68 competitive kilometres to just 57.04 before the day had even begun.

That was shortened further when Hafren, due to be run twice on Friday - as stage one and then stage four - was cancelled on both occasions due to the amount of ice present.

The six stages that did run competitively provided a tough test for even the WRC's finest.

Rossi, having crashed out of the very first forest stage on his WRC debut at the 2002 Rally GB, must have felt considerable pressure as he returned to the unforgiving welsh forests, but this time he was able to conquer the conditions.

Rossi, driving a Stobart-backed Ford Focus WRC car alongside co-driver Carlo Cassina, had climbed to 34th overall after stage three, then 30th after stage five and 26th after stage six. The last two stages of the day, a short 2.29km double run through Walters Arena saw Rossi gain two more positions to end the day in 24th overall.

"The condition of the stages this afternoon were bad with the fog and rain but not as bad as the ice from the morning," revealed Rossi. "We improved very much our stage times from the first pass so that has been a very positive improvement. The longer stages are better for me as I can get into a good rhythm and it starts to feel quite good; the car is really fun to drive."

The Doctor's best stage position on day one was 15th on stage six, the second run through the 18.28km Myherin test. Rossi was particularly pleased with that result, since his time was 21.6sec faster than it had been in the morning.

Rossi presently sits 3min 28.0sec behind rally leader Jari-Matti Latvala (BP Ford) and is just under two minutes away from tenth placed team-mate Matthew Wilson.

Rossi's previous WRC outing, during far kinder conditions in the 2006 Rally of New Zealand, saw the eight-time world champion finish an impressive eleventh.
On that occasion Rossi was also holding 24th position after day one, before progressing to 13th during day two and eleventh after day three. Rossi set a best stage time of seventh during the event.

Weather permitting, Saturday is scheduled to see a full day's action covering 129 kilometres of stage distance, including the Cardiff Super Special in the Millennium Stadium.

Valentino Rossi - 2008 Rally GB:
Friday:
Stage 1: 3.67km Hafren 1 Cancelled due to amount of ice.
Stage 2: 4.28km Sweet Lamb 1 45th on stage (+34.5sec), 45th overall (+34.5sec),
Stage 3: 18.28km Myherin 1 33rd on stage (+1min 23.8sec), 34th overall (+1min 51.1sec).
Stage 4:3.67km Hafren 2 Cancelled due to amount of ice.
Stage 5: 4.28km Sweet Lamb 2 24th on stage (+16.8sec), 30th overall (+2min 3.9sec).
Stage 6: 18.28km Myherin 2 15th on stage (+1min 4.9sec), 26th overall (+3min 4.6sec).
Stage 7: 2.29km Walters Arena 1 25th on stage (+12.9sec), 24th overall (+3min 17.5sec).
Stage 8: 2.29km Walters Arena 2 30th on stage (+11.4sec), 24th overall (+3min 28.0sec).

MotoGP » Rossi: Rally GB conditions 'unbelievable'.
Friday, 5th December 2008

MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi survives early stages of 2008 Wales Rally GB.

MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi has described Friday's opening stages of Wales Rally GB as "the worst rally conditions I've ever driven in" - but has at least avoided a repeat of his early 2002 retirement.

Adverse weather conditions had seen Friday's scheduled action drastically reduced before the day even began - the planned total of 123.68 competitive kilometres being slashed to just 57.04.

That was then reduced further when stage one was cancelled altogether, due to the amount of ice.

The belated action thus began on stage two, Sweet Lamb (4.28km), which Rossi completed in a 45th position, 34.5sec slower than the faster car. Nevertheless, Rossi must have been slightly relieved just to reach the finish, having crashed out on the first forest stage in 2002.

Rossi, driving a Stobart Ford Focus WRC car, then completed the 18.28km third stage in 33rd place, 1min 51.1sec behind the fastest car, moving the Italian up to 34th overall.

"It's just unbelievable!" said Rossi, who finished eleventh overall in much kinder conditions in the 2006 Rally of New Zealand. "There's lots of ice, but, hey, it's still fun! It's the worst rally conditions I've ever driven in... so far!"

The treacherous conditions have helped Citroen's Sebastien Ogier take an unexpected early lead.

Stage four has also been cancelled, leaving four more competitive stages on day one.

MotoGP » Rossi: Rally GB conditions a big disaster!
Friday, 5th December 2008

Six-time MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi reflects on an opening day to the 2008 Wales Rally GB in his Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Focus that really put his talent and ability to the test.

Valentino Rossi has described the weather and surface conditions on the opening day of the 2008 edition of Wales Rally GB as 'quite a big disaster', as rain, snow and ice saw competitors' mileage significantly curtailed and two stages cancelled altogether.

That being the case, the six-time MotoGP World Champion admitted that he was happy to have made it to the end of the day with no scratches to his car, and in a respectable 24th position. It may have been a cautious start, but with accidents accounting for a number of runners, it was clearly the right approach to take.

“Like in New Zealand, we started very slowly to avoid making any mistakes at the beginning,” the Italian told Crash.net in Swansea, alluding to his successful 2006 outing in the southern hemisphere, “and also because we have to cover a lot of kilometres [over the rally].

“The conditions were very difficult, the worst possible I think. We had a spin on the ice, but it wasn't a big moment. We were lucky, because we spun completely 360 degrees and came back in the right direction, so it was okay.

“We still managed to set some good stage times so we are happy, and on Saturday we will have some long stages so we'll see what happens.”

One overwhelming positive is that the man from Urbino has already got substantially further than he managed on his only previous WRGB appearance, when he crashed out on only the second stage six years ago. Getting ever-more comfortable in his Stobart VK M-Sport-run Ford Focus WRC, Rossi is confident of better conditions on day two – and of climbing some way higher up the leaderboard.

“For me it was a little bit tricky at the beginning,” the 29-year-old added in an end-of-day media gathering. “If you drive like you do on the track – trying to go at the maximum – for sure you will make mistakes, so you have to push a little bit less.

“The day wasn't easy for anybody, because the conditions were very much at the limit with ice, snow, rain, mud – it was quite a big disaster! It's been a lot more difficult than New Zealand, because on this rally it's quite easy to make mistakes, so we tried to control the car and improve step-by-step.

“I'm quite happy about my stage times, especially the second loop on stages five and six. We reached the end of the day with no damage to the car and, after covering more kilometres, on Saturday's long stages I think I will have a better feeling with it.”

by Russell Atkins

MotoGP » Rossi up to 16th on Rally GB.
Saturday, 6th December 2008

Valentino Rossi makes promising start to second day of Wales Rally GB.

After a character-building opening day, Valentino Rossi has enjoyed a promising start to the second leg of Wales Rally GB - gaining eight places during Saturday's first three stages.

"The conditions are better, not as much ice, so we try to go faster today," said Rossi this morning.

Rossi, driving a Stobart-run Ford Focus WRC car, has finished 20th, 17th and 16th in the three stages held so far today - moving him up from 24th (on Friday night) to 16th in the overall standings.

"I've made no mistakes. I'm hoping the sunshine will clear the frozen sections," Rossi stated during the service break.

The WRC competitors will now take on the same three stages for a second time, before ending the day with a short 'super special' stage held in Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

The rally concludes with four new stages on Sunday, when Rossi will be hoping to beat his previous best WRC finish of eleventh (in the 2006 Rally of New Zealand).


Valentino Rossi - 2008 Rally GB:

Friday:
Stage 1: 3.67km Hafren 1 Cancelled due to amount of ice.
Stage 2: 4.28km Sweet Lamb 1 45th (+34.5sec), 45th overall (+34.5sec).
Stage 3: 18.28km Myherin 1 33rd (+1min 23.8sec), 34th overall (+1min 51.1sec).
Stage 4:3.67km Hafren 2 Cancelled due to amount of ice.
Stage 5: 4.28km Sweet Lamb 2 24th (+16.8sec), 30th overall (+2min 3.9sec).
Stage 6: 18.28km Myherin 2 15th (+1min 4.9sec), 26th overall (+3min 4.6sec).
Stage 7: 2.29km Walters Arena 1 25th (+12.9sec), 24th overall (+3min 17.5sec).
Stage 8: 2.29km Walters Arena 2 30th (+11.4sec), 24th overall (+3min 28.0sec).

Saturday:
Stage 9: 30.68km Resolfen 1 20th (+1min 40.8sec), 19th overall (+4min 37.4sec).
Stage 10: 18.57km Halfway 1 17th (+59.0sec), 17th overall (+5min 36.4sec).
Stage 11: 14.86km Crychan 1 16th (+36.7sec), 16th overall (+6min 8.9sec).

MotoGP » Rossi survives 'off' for day two 15th.
Saturday, 6th December 2008

Valentino Rossi survives accident to reach 15th position after day two of Wales Rally GB.


Reigning six-time MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi has finished day two of Wales Rally GB in 15th position, an impressive nine places higher than his ranking at the end of day one.

Rossi, driving a Stobart-run Ford Focus WRC car, began the day by posting the 20th, 17th and 16th fastest times on the opening three stages - moving him quickly up from 24th on Friday to 16th in the overall standings.

The Italian explained that he found Saturday's longer stages much more suited to his driving style and was able to get into a good rhythm. Crucially in such a punishing event, Rossi also made no mistakes - this morning at least.

"The first stage felt really good for me. There was some frost but less ice than yesterday," said Rossi, driving alongside Carlo Cassina. "The other two stages were more loose with some rocks and gravel but I'm enjoying it much more today and we have a good rhythm with the car."

Those same three stages - Resolfen, Halfway and Crychan - were then repeated in the afternoon.

"We go a lot faster than the first time," said Rossi after holding his 16th overall during the second Resolfen run. "We are happy - this stage is fantastic! We try to get a good speed and I am getting a good feeling with the car."

However, the following Halfway and Crychan stages proved much more 'eventful'.

"I don't like that stage at all - I'm glad it's over," admitted Rossi after his second run through Halfway, when he set the 20th fastest stage time. "I got stuck behind car 23 and held up."

That hold-up meant that, for the first time, Rossi dropped a position in the standings, but he was able to regain 16th overall through Crychan - despite an accident.

"It is so slippy and a lot of ice. We went too fast into a corner and overshot it which smashed the front of the car and cracked the windscreen but it is OK," explained The Doctor, who crashed out of the 2002 edition of Rally GB on the very first forest stage.

Having survived the final proper stage of the second day, Rossi then settled his nerves with a best yet 12th place during the short Cardiff 'super special', held inside the Millennium Stadium. The result helped move Rossi up to 15th position at the end of day two.

"The big mover today has been Valentino who has jumped nine positions up the leaderboard to 15th," highlighted Stobart VK M-Sport Ford team principal Malcolm Wilson. "It is fantastic to see his pace has improved as he is now getting used to the conditions."

"I'm really enjoying this rally and I have settled in more than the first day," confirmed Rossi. "The Focus feels very good now and my times are improving with every stage and that was my main aim for this rally."

Rossi heads into the final day almost exactly one-minute behind 14th place and nearly five minutes behind tenth position (held by team-mate Matthew Wilson).

That means the #46 will almost certainly need to benefit from retirements ahead of him if he is to better his eleventh place finish on his previous WRC appearance, during the less challenging 2006 Rally of New Zealand.

Nevertheless, Rossi is on target to finish much closer to the rally winner than he had been in NZ. The eight-time world champion was 20min 38.8sec behind Marcus Gronholm in 2006, but he is presently only 9min 37.6sec behind Rally GB leader Jari-Matti Latvala.

The 2008 Wales Rally GB concludes with four new stages on Sunday - and the warning of further wintery weather overnight.

"Tomorrow will be a very difficult day judging by the weather forecast, but hopefully the Stobart crews will all make it to the finish ramp," said Wilson.


Valentino Rossi - 2008 Rally GB:

Friday:
Stage 1: 3.67km Hafren 1 Cancelled due to amount of ice.
Stage 2: 4.28km Sweet Lamb 1 45th (+34.5sec), 45th overall (+34.5sec).
Stage 3: 18.28km Myherin 1 33rd (+1min 23.8sec), 34th overall (+1min 51.1sec).
Stage 4:3.67km Hafren 2 Cancelled due to amount of ice.
Stage 5: 4.28km Sweet Lamb 2 24th (+16.8sec), 30th overall (+2min 3.9sec).
Stage 6: 18.28km Myherin 2 15th (+1min 4.9sec), 26th overall (+3min 4.6sec).
Stage 7: 2.29km Walters Arena 1 25th (+12.9sec), 24th overall (+3min 17.5sec).
Stage 8: 2.29km Walters Arena 2 30th (+11.4sec), 24th overall (+3min 28.0sec).

Saturday:
Stage 9: 30.68km Resolfen 1 20th (+1min 40.8sec), 19th overall (+4min 37.4sec).
Stage 10: 18.57km Halfway 1 17th (+59.0sec), 17th overall (+5min 36.4sec).
Stage 11: 14.86km Crychan 1 16th (+36.7sec), 16th overall (+6min 8.9sec).
Stage 12: 30.68km Resolfen 2 18th (+1min 37.3sec), 16th overall (+7min 30.2sec).
Stage 13:18.57km Halfway 2 20th (+1min 13.3sec), 17th overall (+8min 37.5sec).
Stage 14: 14.86km Crychan 2 17th (+1min 00.5sec), 16th overall (+9min 38.0sec).
Stage 15: 0.99km Cardiff 1 12th (+3.1sec), 15th overall (+9min 37.6sec).

MotoGP » Valentino Rossi finishes 12th in Rally GB.
Sunday, 7th December 2008

Valentino Rossi reaches the finish of Wales Rally GB in 12th position.

MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi has finished Wales Rally GB in twelfth position, having gained three more places during Sunday's third and final day.

Sunday's action consisted of just four stages but, once again, conditions remained challenging due to further icy weather overnight.

Rossi began the day in 15th place, a position he held by setting the 13th fastest time through Sunday's slippery opening stage at Rheola. "It was very slippery - there is lots of ice. But the stage was nice and fast, it felt much better than before. I'm just trying to go fast without falling off," said the Stobart driver, who lost the rear bumper of his Ford Focus WRC car.

The Doctor, aided by co-driver Carlo Cassina, then gained one position with his best stage performance of the event; an eleventh place during his first run through Port Talbot.

"It is a good stage and it looks like we are a bit faster today," said Valentino. "We enjoy and the conditions are not too bad. It is a long time from my last rally in New Zealand [in 2006] to now, but day by day and stage by stage my feeling improves so we are happy. I know I'm driving better than all rally. It's difficult, but to reach the finish will be a real achievement.”

Only a repeat of the Rheola and Port Talbot stages then stood between Rossi and his first Rally GB finish.

The 29-year-old was twelfth fastest through Rheola 2, moving him up to 13th overall, and went on to finish in style by matching his stage best of eleventh during the Port Talbot finale, whilst moving up to twelfth overall in the final standings.

Rossi had been just 45th after stage one of the event, but rose to 24th by the end of day one, 15th by the end of day two, before claiming his hard-earned twelfth at the completion of the 19th and final stage (two of which, on Friday, were cancelled).

The Italian therefore missed out on beating his eleventh place in the 2006 Rally of New Zealand finish by just one position, but conditions were far tougher in Wales and Rossi was at least able to finish much closer to the rally winner than he had been in NZ.

The eight-time world champion was 20min 38.8sec behind Marcus Gronholm in 2006, but crossed the finish line 13min 10.4sec behind 2008 Rally GB winner Sebastien Loeb (Citroen). Rossi's best stage placing in NZ was seventh.

Rossi finished ahead of six fellow WRC cars, while four drivers in the WRC class failed to finish. Rossi's Stobart Ford team-mates François Duval, Malcolm Wilson and Barry Clark finished sixth, ninth and tenth respectively. Clark (and a top ten finish) was two and a half minutes in front of Rossi, while the fourth Stobart car of Henning Solberg retired.

Speaking after finishing the final stage, Rossi couldn't hide his delight at conquering the event.

"I am so happy! I'm thrilled to be here at the end. That was great," smiled Rossi. "It has been a great weekend and we put in some good times on the last stages. It is a step by step process. I tried to understand the notes and the conditions and make no big mistakes and keep on learning. It's great to finish without any big mistakes in these conditions."

Aside from the satisfaction of reaching the finish of such a gruelling event, Rossi was also given the 'Abu Dhabi Spirit of the Rally Award'. The award is presented to 'any individual who exhibits the values for which the emirate is famous: respect, innovation, integrity and teamwork' and is also designed to recognise 'contribution to the sport'. The recipient of the award at each rally gets a trophy and an invitation to visit Abu Dhabi.

The 2008 Wales Rally GB was Rossi's third WRC event; he crashed a Peugeot 206 during the very first forest stage of his WRC debut, at Rally GB in 2002, before guiding a Subaru Impreza to his first WRC finish four years later in NZ.

Since the end of his latest title-winning MotoGP season, Rossi has finished second in the asphalt-based Monza Rally, set a creditable pace in a Ferrari F1 car, been fastest of all in the final MotoGP test session of 2008 and now finished twelfth in the final round of this year's World Rally Championship.

Rossi will be back on two wheels during the first official MotoGP test of 2009, to be held at Sepang in Malaysia from February 5-7.


Valentino Rossi - 2008 Rally GB:

Friday:
Stage 1: 3.67km Hafren 1 Cancelled due to amount of ice.
Stage 2: 4.28km Sweet Lamb 1 45th (+34.5sec), 45th overall (+34.5sec).
Stage 3: 18.28km Myherin 1 33rd (+1min 23.8sec), 34th overall (+1min 51.1sec).
Stage 4:3.67km Hafren 2 Cancelled due to amount of ice.
Stage 5: 4.28km Sweet Lamb 2 24th (+16.8sec), 30th overall (+2min 3.9sec).
Stage 6: 18.28km Myherin 2 15th (+1min 4.9sec), 26th overall (+3min 4.6sec).
Stage 7: 2.29km Walters Arena 1 25th (+12.9sec), 24th overall (+3min 17.5sec).
Stage 8: 2.29km Walters Arena 2 30th (+11.4sec), 24th overall (+3min 28.0sec).

Saturday:
Stage 9: 30.68km Resolfen 1 20th (+1min 40.8sec), 19th overall (+4min 37.4sec).
Stage 10: 18.57km Halfway 1 17th (+59.0sec), 17th overall (+5min 36.4sec).
Stage 11: 14.86km Crychan 1 16th (+36.7sec), 16th overall (+6min 8.9sec).
Stage 12: 30.68km Resolfen 2 18th (+1min 37.3sec), 16th overall (+7min 30.2sec).
Stage 13:18.57km Halfway 2 20th (+1min 13.3sec), 17th overall (+8min 37.5sec).
Stage 14: 14.86km Crychan 2 17th (+1min 00.5sec), 16th overall (+9min 38.0sec).
Stage 15: 0.99km Cardiff 1 12th (+3.1sec), 15th overall (+9min 37.6sec).

Sunday:
Stage 16: 27.96km Rheola 1 13th (+1min 24.4sec), 15th overall (+10min 56.9sec).
Stage 17: 20.09km Port Talbot 1 11th (+48.9sec), 14th overall (+11min 45.0sec).
Stage 18: 27.96km Rheola 2 12th (+54.3sec), 13th overall (+12min 30.1sec).
Stage 19: 20.09km Port Talbot 2 11th (+42.5sec), 12th overall (+13min 10.4sec).

MotoGP » Rossi wants Rally GB return, Brivio impressed.
Sunday, 7th December 2008

Valentino Rossi hoping to return to Wales Rally GB in 2009, MotoGP team manager Davide Brivio impressed by his WRC pace.


Moments after reaching the finish of Wales Rally GB on Sunday, MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi expressed his desire to return in 2009.

Rossi banished the demons of his embarrassing 2002 Rally GB exit, when he crashed out on the very first foresee stage, by rising from 45th to 12th on his 2008 return.

"I have had an enjoyable time and I would love to come back next year if that is possible but that is not decided yet," revealed the Italian Superstar.

Rossi's march up the leaderboard in such a gruelling event - which saw rain, ice, snow and fog - impressed his Fiat Yamaha team manager Davide Brivio, present in Wales and himself an occasional rally competitor.

"Valentino started carefully and was getting used to the rally. By the end he was much closer to the top and on one stage quicker than [team-mate] Wilson, so he reached his targets," said Brivio.

Rossi will remain a Yamaha MotoGP rider for at least the next two seasons, but even Brivio couldn't help wondering what Rossi could achieve if he made a full time switch to the WRC.

"It would be interesting to see what he could do if he did all the rounds of the championship," he said. "Even now he's working on his notes, getting them right and trying to understand how to describe what's ahead.”

Rossi finished Rally GB 13min 10.4sec behind event winner Sebastien Loeb (Citroen), which was seven minutes closer to the top than he'd been in his previous WRC outing at the 2006 Rally of New Zealand. On that occasion, The Doctor finished in eleventh position.

Rossi, who recently returned to the wheel of a Ferrari F1 car, has frequently hinted that he could switch to rallying after MotoGP.

Rossi comes home twelfth in Rally GB event
Monday, 08 December 2008

One-off WRC appearance ends in success for MotoGP title holder in Wales.



MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi´s weekend of WRC action ended as a resounding success for the Italian, as he claimed a creditable twelfth position after a gruelling three days of the Rally GB.

Driving a Stobart-backed Ford Focus for the event, Rossi and co-driver Carlos Cassina moved up three places from fifteenth on Sunday after a thrilling final two stages, concluding his progression up the field. He had leapt from 45th (at the end of the first stage) to 24th by the end of day one, and continued to pick up speed over the course of the remaining two days. His twelfth place not only banished demons of his first Rally GB appearance –which he was unable to complete after an early crash- but was also just one position off his 2006 finish in the New Zealand round of the WRC series.

`I´m very happy today, firstly to finish the rally and secondly to set some very good times on the four stages today,´ said Rossi after the event´s conclusion, upon which he received the Abu Dhabi Spirit of the Rally award for his efforts.

`The car was fantastic and I was finding it easy to drive when we got a precise setting. My approach here was to take the race step-by-step and try not to make any mistakes and this worked well. I think this rally was very difficult and finishing it makes me very happy indeed. The Focus was really nice to drive and it´s been fantastic working with the Stobart team.´

Big mistakes there weren´t, but the six-time MotoGP titlist did have an edge-of-seat moment in the icy conditions on Saturday. Taking on the Crychan stage of the rally, Rossi overshot a corner and smashed up the front of his car, cracking the windscreen and losing the front bumper.

In placing twelfth, Rossi placed higher than six regular WRC riders, and was 13´10.4 behind Citroen´s Rally GB winner Sebastien Loeb.

MotoGP » Rossi eyes rallying future after bikes.
Monday, 8th December 2008

Record-breaking MotoGP star Valentino Rossi has confessed that he could see himself switching across full-time to rallying following his successful outing on Wales Rally GB at the weekend - but not just yet...


Valentino Rossi has evoked a possible full-time future in rallying after finishing a highly commendable twelfth on his second appearance on Wales Rally GB at the weekend – but added that he hopes to remain in bike racing first for ‘more than two years'.

The record-breaking, six-time MotoGP World Champion participated in the end-of-season event for Stobart VK M-Sport, aboard a Ford Focus RS WRC 07 adorned by his traditional #46, and he improved from 45th position following Friday morning's opening stage to be setting consistently competitive times come the end of the rally.

That earned Rossi praise from his fellow drivers and observers, and whilst he has insisted that his Ferrari Formula 1 tests of late have been purely ‘to have fun', the man from Urbino did confess that rallying has always a been a great ‘passion' of his and that one day he could foresee a switch from two wheels to four, and from the circuit to the gravel tracks and forests.

“It's very different, but not particularly tough,” the 29-year-old told Crash.net of having swapped between MotoGP, F1 and rallying in the space of a matter of weeks. “I decided to do this because I have a great passion for cars and for rallying, and I had this month to use for gaining experience and, in the end, to have fun. This is the main target.

“I think in Formula 1 it would be very difficult for me to have a future, because I'm quite old, but for rallying it's not impossible. I think it would be difficult to win rallies or become a world champion, but maybe with more experience and a good programme it would be possible to get some good results when I stop bike racing.

“I don't know when I will stop with bikes, though, sincerely, because if I continue to stay at this level, I'm enjoying riding a lot and my place is over there. I hope to stay more than two years.”

Renault F1 managing director Flavio Briatore suggested last week that MotoGP ‘would not be half of what it is' without Rossi [see separate story – click here]

by Russell Atkins

MotoGP » WRC stars give Rossi verdict.
Monday, 8th December 2008

Sebastien Loeb and Jari-Matti Latvala assess Valentino Rossi's Wales Rally GB performance.


WRC stars Sebastien Loeb and Jari-Matti Latvala, first and second in the 2008 Wales Rally GB, have given their verdict on the performance by six-time MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi.

Rossi made his third WRC appearance in the three-day event, which concluded on Sunday, and - unlike in his 2002 debut - reached the finish.

Rossi completed one of the WRC's toughest events in twelfth position, one place behind his 2006 Rally of New Zealand ranking, but finished much closer to the top. In NZ, Rossi had been 20min 38.8sec behind Marcus Gronholm, but he crossed the Welsh finish line a much-improved 13min 10.4sec behind Loeb.

Loeb is the reigning five-time (consecutive) World Rally champion and, like Rossi, recently proved his talents extend beyond his chosen sport with an impressive performance in an F1 car.

The Frenchman, who admitted he would struggle in MotoGP, said that Rossi had faced a huge challenge, but clearly improved as the rally went on - the Italian having been just 45th at the end of stage one.

"I think Valentino at the moment is a world champion in motorbikes and for sure it is very hard for him to arrive like this in a world championship rally. It is like me arriving tomorrow in MotoGP. I think I would be far behind!" said the Citroen driver.

"At the end of the rally he was getting better and better and for sure he improved. But I hope he had some fun and I think he came for that. I spoke a bit with him and he was struggling a bit with the notes and I understand that. At this speed you need some experience. But he was getting better."

Latvala, like Rossi, was driving a Ford Focus WRC car. The Finn, part of Ford's official WRC team, insisted that Rossi had done a 'good job' and believes that his own career path proves there is no overnight success in WRC.

"For me Valentino did a good job," said Latvala, who finished 12.7sec behind Loeb after 17 competitive stages. "I remember when he was here the first time, because it was my first World Rally in 2002, and I had a feeling that year that there was too much pressure for him to suddenly arrive and do a great performance.

"He is doing it the right way now, by having fun and starting slowly and improving step by step and gaining in confidence. That is the way you have to come in the WRC.

"Take me for example. I have been here now since I was 17 and I am now 23. So now I am starting to be able to fight against Sébastien but it took so many years, six years, to get where I am.

"So for me, Valentino's performance was good and I am really happy to see how he is improving and if he does more World Rallies in the future he could reach quite easily a top ten position," Latvala declared.

Rossi has already stated that he would like to return to Wales Rally GB in 2009. Prior to the start of the 2008 event the Fiat Yamaha rider, who has now done three gravel-based WRC events, also revealed that he would like to one day enter an asphalt rally.

"I would really like to do a tarmac rally - like Corsica perhaps. For me now it is impossible because it is in the middle of my racing season," said the 29-year-old.

Rossi will remain a Yamaha MotoGP rider for at least the next two seasons.

MotoGP » Rossi plans rally return, Brivio happy.
Sunday, 7th December 2008

Valentino Rossi hoping to return to Wales Rally GB in 2009, MotoGP team manager Davide Brivio impressed by his WRC pace.


Moments after reaching the finish of Wales Rally GB on Sunday, MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi expressed his desire to return in 2009.

Rossi banished the demons of his embarrassing 2002 Rally GB exit, when he crashed out on the very first forest stage, by rising from 45th to 12th on his 2008 return to one of the toughest rounds on the World Rally calendar.

"I would love to come back next year if that is possible, but that is not decided yet," revealed the Italian superstar, who drove a Stobart Ford Focus WRC car. "I have really enjoyed this rally, especially when we got some fast times [on Sunday] and hopefully we will get a chance to work again together with Stobart."

Rossi can be assured of a warm welcome should he ever return to the Stobart WRC team.

"There has been so much excitement with Valentino in the team and his presence here has been a massive boost to the squad; his times today have been remarkable," praised Stobart team principal Malcolm Wilson.

"Valentino's presence has really raised our game and he has been an inspiration to everyone in the team," added Stobart Group CEO Andrew Tinkler.

Rossi's march up the leaderboard in such a gruelling event - which saw rain, ice, snow and fog - also impressed his Fiat Yamaha team manager Davide Brivio, present in Wales and himself an occasional rally competitor.

"Valentino started carefully and was getting used to the rally. By the end he was much closer to the top and on one stage quicker than [team-mate] Wilson, so he reached his targets," said Brivio.

Rossi will remain a Yamaha MotoGP rider for at least the next two seasons, but even Brivio couldn't help wondering what Rossi could achieve if he made a full time switch to the WRC.

"It would be interesting to see what he could do if he did all the rounds of the championship," he said. "Even now he's working on his notes, getting them right and trying to understand how to describe what's ahead.”

Rossi finished Rally GB 13min 10.4sec behind event winner Sebastien Loeb (Citroen), which was seven minutes closer to the top than he'd been in his previous WRC outing at the 2006 Rally of New Zealand. On that occasion, The Doctor finished in eleventh position.

Rossi, who recently returned to the wheel of a Ferrari F1 car, has frequently hinted that he could switch to rallying after MotoGP.