MotoGP on Time Off

Randy De Puniet is one of these intrepid racers, he has spent most of the year trying to race while nursing injuries, one of which is a broken ankle with screws which were inserted during the race season. This LCR Honda rider recently went into the hospital, now that the 2009 MotoGP season is over, to have the screws removed and can allow his ankle to heal fully. He spent the year with the screws in because they still allowed him to race through the pain barrier during each race and still have a pretty good result for the year. Randy will now rest up for the next stage of his training, which will be pre-season testing in Malaysia of the bike they’ll be fielding for the 2010 MotoGP season.

Valentino Rossi has been spending his downtime behind the wheel of a race car

Valentino Rossi just likes to feel the adrenalin rush of the sensation of speed in his life. During his downtime between seasons and trials, he’s usually found chasing after the adrenalin rush he loves behind the wheel of a race car or something else that goes fast. This week he was on the Vallelunga Circuit taking a Ferrari 430 through its paces, as he and team mates Andrea Ceccato and Alessio Salucci were thrilling thousands of fans as they took turns on the track.

Rossi started the race behind the wheel, before handing the driving chores off to his teammates, and then once again getting behind the wheel for another stint. The trio had problems all day with their car, and the mechanical problems teamed with a fire late in the race to keep the trio from their chance at winning the race. The three gentlemen did manage to finish third in the race, behind a Corvette and another Ferrari 430.

Rossi after the race said it was a great experience, although the fire at the end did scare him a little as he sat in the car, but it was quickly put out and nothing really came of the event. He also mentioned that he wants to do more four-wheeled racing in the future, maybe a few different types and will be looking for rides.

Rossi really is an adventurous type and loves to get behind the wheel of anything that will go fast. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Valentino behind the wheel of many race cars in the future, maybe even after he decides he’s had enough of sportbike racing.

“Image: Zuma Press”