ROSSI THRILLED WITH PODIUM, BUT WILL BE BACK
Valentino Rossi has an extraordinary list of achievements in Australia with five MotoGP wins at Phillip Island, but now he can add some Bathurst silverware to that.
On his third attempt, Rossi finished the 2025 Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour in second place with Charles Weerts and Raffaele Marciello in a memorable Team WRT 1-2.
It is the “Doctor’s” first inspection of the Mount Panorama podium having finished fifth last year and sixth on debut.
Now a full-time GT driver, Rossi believed hopes of a desired podium had disappeared when he overtook the #24 Method Motorsport McLaren under yellows and the #46 was hit with a drove through.
This pushed them from second to eighth, but it did put them on the out-of-sync fuel strategy which helped the podium become possible, along with an epic move on the SunEnergy1 Mercedes at The Chase from Marciello.
“It is a fantastic way to start the season with a podium,” Rossi said.
“The whole weekend was really strong and competitive
“The race was good and competitive. We could fight with the 32 but unfortunately I made a mistake and we did a ride through.
“From that moment I thought the fight from the podium was over, but we fought back with great pace.
“I am very happy. A podium was always the target and it is a great feeling to do it here at a great track.”
Rossi also already confirmed his intent of returning to the mountain again to make more Aussie memories in 2026.
“I want to come back next year,” he said.
“For me it is good to come one time a year to Australia because l love this place so much and it is the perfect way to start the season because the track is fantastic but also very difficult
“I hope that in the next year more factory drivers and more factory cars can come, but I think that I will come back here.”
Image: Mark Horsbrugh
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