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 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.”
“I have another two-year contract with Yamaha already signed but I hope in the future to make a real season in a world rally championship.”
“We improved a lot with the pace notes after our last rally in New Zealand. Trying to understand what you need to know from your co-driver is a very difficult part of this job.”
“My goal is to have fun and finish. At the end of New Zealand in some stages I was about two seconds per kilometre off Marcus Gronholm’s pace. My target is to try and get as close to the leaders again here.”
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