Rossi almost wins Monza rally

You'd think after taking out yet another MotoGP World Championship, Valentino Rossi would be keen for a rest, but the Italian racer is still at it.

The motorcycle racing champion seems to be getting behind the wheels of race cars more and often, and after almost winning the 6 Hours of Vallelunga, Rossi finished second in the Rally de Monza over the weekend.

Piloting a Ford Focus WRC, the Italian was super quick for the entire event, winning four stages (out of nine) outright. He would have claimed overall victory were it not for the errors on special stages four and five. Dindo Capello won the event in his Citröen C4.

Clearly the Doctor has a passion for car racing and, after his contract with Yamaha finishes in 2010, who knows where he will decide to go?

"I finished the rally by winning the last super special 'Grand Prix' test in the rain and I am satisfied to have taken the fastest time as well in the Master's, where I was hoping to take revenge on Capello but I was not able to do so," said Rossi "In recent years the level of the Rally de Monza has risen a lot and in order to win it is not enough just to be fast, it is also necessary to make few mistakes.

"In any case, the last twenty days have been very entertaining for me, firstly with the motocross in Cavellara, then with a Ferrari GT in Vallelunga and now with the rally."

And it doesn't stop there! Rossi will partake in the "Bettega Memorial" rally show next weekend, which is part the Bologna Motorshow in Italy.