Rossi set to miss award presentation

MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi could miss the FIM‘s annual awards ceremony in his native Italy on Saturday.

Rossi dominated the championship this season but has been in hiding since he was named in a letter delivered in a letter bomb from a Spanish terrorist organisation.

No direct threat was made to the London-based Italian but he was warned to sever all links with Spanish oil company Repsol-YPF who back the Honda team he races for.

Since returning to his native Italy, Rossi has been under police guard but may decide to miss the awards ceremony in the spa town of Saint Vincent, set in the Italian mountain resort of Valle d’Aosta.

Carlo Fiorani, manager of Honda Europe and the boss of Rossi‘s team, said: “We are stunned and struck by the news that we have learned from the newspapers, even if I have no particular comment to make.

“Repsol is the sponsor of Honda and not of Valentino Rossi, but in any case these are news items which do not concern sport and we do not know the situation which could have generated this news.”

A total of 22 riders and four teams will be honoured at the ceremony and 19 constructors titles will be presented covering sports from road racing to speedway, motocross and trials.

Rossi was expected to be the star attraction but now sources at the FIM, world motorcycle sport‘s governing body, believe he may choose to miss the event amid fears over his security.