World Moto GP champion Valentino Rossi will donate his second-income earnings to the victims of the Abruzzo earthquake, which has claimed 291 lives in central Italy. Throughout the coming Moto GP season, which begins on Sunday in Qatar, Rossi will write a column in Italys most read newspaper, the Gazzetta dello Sport.
But the popular 30-year-old, who comes from Marche, the neighbouring region to Abruzzo, said he would put his earnings from writing the column to good use. "It wouldnt be right (to make money for the column). Weve decided with La Gazzetta to give my earnings to charity," he told the newspapers Saturday edition. "I think thats the least I can do given that Ill be doing it for fun. For this season well give it to the victims of the Abruzzo earthquake.
"I think thats the most important thing at this moment in time." Rossi will also carry a sticker on his Yamaha bike paying tribute to the people of Abruzzo, 28,000 of whom have been left homeless by the disaster.