Valentino Rossi News
Nine-time World Champion Valentino Rossi continues to see loads of green while not-so successfully piloting the red Ducati GP12.
According to Forbes latest List Of The World’s 100 Highest-Paid Athletes released Monday, the MotoGP rider ranked 20th, reportedly making $30 million a year. Topping the Forbes List was the boxer Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr., who reportedly earns $85 million.
Rossi’s contract with the Ducati Team earned him around $17 million annual salary, with the rest of the money arriving from loads of endorsements, including Monster Energy drink, Dainese leathers and AGV helmets, to name a few.
Forbes says the data collected for its earning figures include “include salaries, bonuses, prize money, appearance fees, as well as licensing and endorsement income for the 12 months between June 2011 and June 2012. (Forbes does) not deduct for taxes or agents’ fees.”
It’s also interesting to note that Rossi finished just behind Ferrari Formula 1 driver Fernando Alonso, who made $32 million, and tied with F1 legend Michael Shumacher.
As for Rossi’s MotoGP career with the Ducati Team, results aren’t particularly satisfying for the 33-year-old Italian. During his debut year with Ducati in 2011, Rossi finished seventh overall, his worst season since joining GP racing in 1996, the year he finished ninth in the 125cc class aboard the Scuderia AGV Aprilia.
These struggles continued in 2012; after six of 18 rounds, Rossi is currently sixth overall. His best finish arrived at Le Mans when he finished second in a rain-soaked race.
