Valentino Rossi’s Girlfriend Tested Positive Too

Valentino Rossi has been criticised by a fellow MotoGP star after he reportedly attended his girlfriend’s birthday party before testing positive for Covid-19.

It has since emerged that the 41-year-old flew to France last week to attend girlfriend Francesca Sofia Novello’s 27th birthday bash. According to Spanish outlet Marca, Rossi took a private jet to attend Novello’s celebrations. Valentino Rossi tested positive just two days after his girlfriend’s party, with fellow rider Pol Espargaro slamming the Italian legend.

“Everyone has a personal responsibility to know the risk that exists,” Espargaro said. “Those who want to race cannot go to birthdays or private parties. At home I don’t see friends, I don’t go to a restaurant or anything. This season is peculiar and the one who suffers the most damage is the driver who is infected with the coronavirus because he is forced to skip races”.

Pol Espargaro continued, “I am alone with my wife and daughter and we use extreme precautions: I wash my hands 30 times a day and I always wear a mask. When I want to go home after a race I ask for permission, and like everyone else, to return to the paddock I have to present a negative test. For example, Valentino will miss two races and therefore the championship is compromised for him. Two races out, he will pay a lot. Everyone is responsible for their actions”.

As reported few days ago, Rossi and fellow Italian national sporting hero, multiple world swimming champion Federica Pellegrini, became the latest major sporting names to be hit by the virus. We wish a speedy recovery for all that have recently contracted COVID-19, especially all athletes around the world.