ITALY: Valentino Rossi woos movie fans on the red carpet at the 65 Venice Film Festival

Record ID: 823738

  • Title: ITALY: Valentino Rossi woos movie fans on the red carpet at the 65 Venice Film Festival
  • Date: 11th September 2008
  • Summary: VENICE LIDO, ITALY (SEPTEMBER 4, 2008) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) VALENTINO ROSSI SAYING: "Now seven we are very close to eight but not yet it's long. I have always great motivation because like the bike is my passion and I like a lot. I had fun in the first race 12 years ago. It's important I give my the maximum and also the taste of the victories is something unique." VARIOUS ROSSI MAKING HAND PRINTS IN CLAY (SOUNDBITE) (English) VALENTINO ROSSI SAYING: "There are a lot of young riders very fast but I hope not ever a Valentino Rossi."
  • Embargoed: 26th September 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Italy
  • Country: Italy
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVANESPP1Q369VN3I287KOE5TB5
  • Story Text: Taking a break form the thrills and spill of international MotorGP racing, Italian motocycle sensation Valantino Rossi wooed movie fans on the red carpet in Venice (September 4) while attending a honorary screening of Yuppi Do by iconic Italian film director Adriano Celentano.
    With just five races left in this years season, Rossi is well on his way to winning his sixth MotoGP title.
    Having won the last three races, the 29-year-old Italian leads Australian defending champion Casey Stoner by 75 points. The next Grand Prix is scheduled for Indianapolis on September 14.
    Only fellow-Italian Giacomo Agostini, with eight 500cc world championship titles, has a better record than Rossi in the top flight.
    Agostini is regarded by many as the greatest-ever Grand Prix rider. But Rossi now looks certain to overhaul Agostini's record of 68 premier-class victories after equalling the mark with a win at his home circuit in Misano on Sunday (August 31).
    After retirement, Agostini became team manager for the Yamaha and later the Cagiva Grand Prix racing teams.
    Speaking to Reuters at the Venice film festival on Thursday (September 4) Rossi said he never expected to get anywhere near to matching Agostini's record - "Yes, he's fantastic. If someone had said to me five years ago you are right for 68 victories like Agostini's - I would have said impossible.
    But I did a great job in the last year, a lot of victories and maybe arrive with Giacomo. And now have to try to make a little bit better."
    Movie fan Rossi said he was flattered to have been invited to the film festival and was hoping to meet iconic Italian entertainer Adriano Celentano.
    The charismatic MotoGP star said he might be interested in a movie career of his own, but not until after retiring from the track: "I don't know, but to make a movie you need time and you need to be able to make the actor, you know. Now I don't have enough time, maybe when I finish my career."
    21 films have been screened at the 65th Venice Filmfestival including "Rachel Getting Married", directed by Oscar-winner Jonathan Demme and starring Anne Hathaway and Debra Winger, Kathryn Bigelow directs Iraqi drama "The Hurt Locker", Mickey Rourke stared in Darren Aronofsky's "The Wrestler" while acclaimed Mexican screenwriter Guillermo Arriaga made his directorial debut with "The Burning Plain" starring Oscar winners Charlize Theron and Kim Basinger.
    Japan had three main competition entries, led by revered animation director Hayao Miyazaki whose "Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea" is already storming the box office at home.
    Other highlights included "Valentino: The Last Emperor", about the celebrated Italian designer's last two years at the helm of the fashion house he created, and a film about the tumultuous love life of composer Giacomo Puccini.
    The 2008 festival is dedicated to the late Egyptian director Youssef Chahine, who died in July aged 82, and is also honouring Manoel de Oliveira, the Portuguese film maker who is still going strong at 99.
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