SuperBike Magazine June 2020

78 RIDER INTERVIEWS
GLOBAL LOCKDOWN
WHAT HAVE
THE RIDERS
BEEN UP TOO?
Due to the global concern about the corona virus, many of the sporting
events we enjoy watching or take part in have come to an abrupt stop.
Article by Daniel Pienaar
Pics taken from rider social media
The result of this pandemic
has been terrible for MotoGP
fans around the world as the
first nine racers of the season
have either been canceled or
postponed. However there is light at the
end of the tunnel, many of the countries
have started to uplift their lockdown
regulations and with this upliftment
of regulations some of the riders have
gone back to testing. With the first
round of MotoGP for 2020 proposed to
be taking place in just under a month at
Jerez, we stalked the worlds elite riders
to see what they have been up too
during this lockdown period.
VALENTINO
ROSSI
The Doctor was particularly busy throughout lock down,
Apart from taking part in the MotoGP virtual races that
have been happening during lockdown the 41 year old
Italian also took part in an All Stars Racing Night, hosted
by F1’s Charles Lerlerc. This took place virtually at Misano
World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, and in the form of a
GT Race. Rossi was able to finish the race in fifth place
after staring from P19 against some of the international
sports stars including a few of the F1 boys.
Rossi also spent a lot of time riding around the ranch
with the riders from the VR46 Academy as well as even
dragging a knee around Misano on board a road going
Yamaha R1M.
When asked what it would be like reuniting with his
team the nine time world champion replied,”I will be very
happy to meet my team that are also friends and is like
my second family”.