WRC trying to steal Rossi

The WRC is trying to steal Valentino Rossi from MotoGP. WRC commercial boss, David Richards, is keen to get the Italian to defect to the FIA World Rally Championship in 2008.

"I have helped Valentino out with a car for rallies because he would be great for the sport and I'd love to see him in a full WRC season," Richards told British newspaper, The People. "I know that he is signed to Yamaha for next year's MotoGP, but we want to get him in a full WRC car for next year's Rally GB and then to see if he wants to sign up for a season.

"Valentino has told me how rally is what he wants to do. But it is just a case of what happens with Yamaha – and what happens next season, because I know that he wants to claim his eighth crown in MotoGP. But if he does then I'll be trying to make sure that he is in a full works WRC car for the season after because he would be fantastic for the sport and he's still so young that his career could also be a long won. Rossi would be great for the fans."