MotoGP hero Valentino Rossi says he’s planning on returning to the Bathurst 12 Hour following a maiden podium on the occasion final weekend with BMW.
Rossi has elected to deal with the World Endurance Championship with WRT BMW within the LMGT3 class, although the staff did verify to Crash.web that there have been plans for him to contest choose different occasions.
Learn extra: Inside Valentino Rossi’s chase for a tenth world title
The 12-hour enduro on the Mount Panorama circuit in Bathurst marked the beginning of Rossi’s 2025 racing season, as he teamed up with Charles Weerts and Raffaele Marciello within the #46 WRT-run BMW M4 GT3.
The #46 automotive – which began outdoors the highest 10 after qualifying – battled with the sister #32 WRT entry for the lead at varied phases of the race, although Rossi’s podium hopes had been jeopardised when he was hit with a penalty for an overtake beneath yellow flags.
However the #46 automotive rallied within the latter phases to finish a WRT 1-2 behind the #32 automotive.
Having made it onto the rostrum in his third go to to Bathurst, Rossi is planning on a return to problem for victory in future.
“I need to come again, as a result of for me it is good to return and race one time a yr in Australia, as a result of I like this place lots,” he mentioned.
“It is the proper strategy to begin the season, as a result of the monitor is implausible, and the race can also be very tough.
“I hope that within the subsequent yr extra manufacturing unit drivers and extra manufacturing unit vehicles can come, however I believe that I’ll come again right here.”
Commenting on the race, Rossi admits he thought the penalty meant his podium hopes had been “over” and praised a late overtake from team-mate Marciello in his cost to get to the podium.
“This podium is a implausible strategy to begin the season,” he added.
“The entire weekend was nice, as we had been all the time sturdy and aggressive.
“We had been capable of combat with our sister automotive till I made a mistake sadly and we needed to serve a drive-through penalty.
“I believed at that time that the combat for the rostrum was over, however we managed to return again with nice tempo.
“Raffaele’s overtake on Jules Gounon was loads of enjoyable to look at. I’m very pleased with the end result.”