Advertisement
Advertisement
Italian rider Valentino Rossi could be in trouble after appearing to deliberately ride into a woman on a scooter. Photo: AFP

MotoGP fan bumped by Valentino Rossi rejects apology saying she may press charges after biker ‘deliberately’ collides with her

A fan shoved out of the way by Rossi says she may press charges against the nine-time world champion despite his apology

A fan shoved out of the way by Valentino Rossi says she may press charges against the nine-time world champion despite his apology after MotoGP’s season-ending Valencia Grand Prix.

Rossi made headlines before Sunday’s race when a video released via social media showed him bumping into a woman and using his left foot to move her out of his way as he rode a non-racing motorcycle in the paddock.

He first joked about the incident, saying he was “afraid of being arrested” because of what happened, then said he had to “apologise” and hoped that the fan was doing well. Rossi blamed the paddock confusion for trying to move through the crowd as quick as possible to get to his team’s box.

The woman, who was trying to take a selfie when she was hit from behind by Rossi, told Spanish media that she would not accept the veteran rider’s apology and considered taking action against him.

“I would have accepted his apology if it had been an accident, but seeing the video, you can tell that it was done on purpose,” said the fan, identified by COPE radio as Ana Cabanillas Vazquez. “I have a small bruise on my leg. I’ll consider pressing charges.”
Valentino Rossi (right) is a nine-time world champion. Photo: EPA

Vazquez told the radio station that she is a fan of Marc Marquez, a Spaniard and Rossi’s longtime rival. Rossi shoved Marquez out of the way in a similar way during a race last season, eventually being punished by racing officials and losing the title.

The Italian finished fourth in Sunday’s Valencia GP, enough to secure him second place behind Marquez in this year’s title race.

Jorge Lorenzo won the event on Sunday, with Marquez finishing second.

Post