Valentino Rossi Finishes Second at Monza
Cycle News Staff | November 27, 2011
Valentino Rossi put a scare into the reigning World Rally Champion with a strong second place finish in the Monza Rally Show at the Monza Autodrome outside of Milan, Italy.The nine-time world champion and co-driver Carlo Cassina drove their Monster Energy Ford Fiesta RS to two stage wins and second place overall in the WRC class behind eight-time and defending World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb and co-driver Severine Loeb after three days of racing on a variety of courses at the Monza circuit.”Beating his majesty Sebastien Loeb in the Rally of Monza Grand Prix is a cool thing… to do it two times it is priceless!” Rossi wrote on Twitter.The Frenchman Loeb put his Citroen DS3 into the lead on Friday by finishing second in the first leg and winning the second. Rossi finished fourth and fifth and finished the day fourth overall, 10.8 secs. behind.
Saturday was Rossi’s best day. The Ducati Marlboro rider won two of the five stages and also finished second, third, and in a tie for sixth. But Loeb had a better day, winning three legs and finishing twice to Rossi in the other two. The day ended with Rossi moving up to second, but at a gap of 18.7 secs. to Loeb.Loeb took control on Sunday by winning both stages and putting the win out of reach for Rossi. Rossi was third and second, which was good enough for second overall in the WRC field of 23.The winning margin was 24.2 secs.Italian endurance driver Rinaldo Scapello and co-driver Luigi Pirollo drove their Citroen DS3 to third place, 4.3 secs. behind Rossi.Rossi wasn’t the only motorcycle racer in the field. Monster Yamaha Tech 3’s Andrea Dovizioso finished 54th overall, but 23rd in the S20 class driving his Peugeot S2000. Moto2 rider Andrea Iannone finished four spots behind Dovi on the S20 class, also driving a Peugeot S20.And Rossi’s father, Graziano, drove a Chevrolet Corvette Z6 GT to eighth in the GT class.
