Arrested man threatened to kill Valentino at Mugello this weekend

A 42-year-old labourer has been arrested in the Italian town of Casale Monferrato after he admitted threatening to “put a bullet in the head” of 9-times world champion Valentino Rossi at the Mugello round of MotoGP this weekend.

The man made the threat repeatedly to Rossi’s friends, family and anonymously to the media.    

Police searching the man’s home found “overwhelming evidence” to prosecute him, including meticulously researched personal details of Rossi’s friends and family, business dealings and newspaper clippings of ‘the man I hate most’.

Rossi appeared unruffled by events according to Italian media, saying after police had made their arrest: “I thank the State Police and the commissioner of Pesaro. They were very good.

“There is little else to add, except I am sorry to hear that someone’s got so much hate for you without any real reason.”