Valentino Rossi furious at British GP track invasion

Valentino Rossi has blasted fans that invaded the circuit before the end of Sunday’s British GP at Donington Park.

The Fiat Yamaha rider voiced his anger in Assen today after the end of the British GP was marred by a mass track invasion that started before the end of the 30-lap race.

Despite warnings on big TV screens and announcements by course commentator Fred Clarke not to invade the circuit, hundreds of fans poured onto the track while some of the field were still racing.

Some of the scenes, which saw reigning world champion Casey Stoner come in for abuse from fans, has been condemned by Rossi, who finished the race second.

He likened Sunday’s scenes similar to those witnessed at his home clash in Mugello, which is the other circuit where organiser’s have failed to maintain crowd control at the end of the race.

The worst incident saw factory Suzuki rider Chris Vermeulen narrowly avoid hitting a fan as he crossed the line flat-out in fourth gear.

“Sunday was as bad as Mugello, “said Rossi. “In Mugello it is more dangerous because the people are crossing the track. In Donington the people are a little bit cleverer and it is less dangerous. We have to do something in Mugello and Donington.

“The people have to wait for the last lap. Some people said to me that (Marco) Melandri arrived late and there were a lot of fans on the track on the last lap before the finish while he was still racing and it is very, very dangerous.

“This is a big problem because we are very lucky that nothing has happened. When something does it becomes a big problem.

“In Mugello they have tried everything. Three rows of wire fencing but in Donington it is quite easy to get onto the track but we will speak in the Safety Commission about this. It is a problem and we have to fix this.”

Rossi was also angered by the level of physical punishment he took as he tried desperately to get back to the safe haven of pitlane.

The 29-year-old was hit several times on the arms and head by fans wishing to congratulate him, but Rossi said: “They are punching my arms and head and it is a lot of pain because you are still going quite fast. I was going through and people are hitting me and you say ‘f***ing b****rd.”