Valentino Rossi to launch 'VR46' Moto3 team in 2014

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Valentino Rossi is to start a Moto3 team, running Romano Fenati and possibly half-brother Luca Marini on KTM machinery in 2014.

Rumours that Rossi would become involved in a Moto3 team have been circling for months.

But in August the seven time MotoGP champion insisted the plan was just to start a 'VR46 Riders Academy', to help support young Italian racers, rather than an actual team.

However Italy's SportMediaset reports that the Italian Federation will no longer field the San Carlo-backed Team Italia squad next year, leaving 2012 race winner Fenati in need of a team.

Italy's Sky TV will sponsor the new VR46 project, while KTM machines are also confirmed - and an obvious choice, having won every Moto3 grand prix so far this year.

"We have joined forces with Sky in order to give the Italian riders the opportunity to be competitive and reach the highest levels," said Rossi.

The identity of Fenati's team-mate is not yet known, but Rossi's half-brother Marini is unsurprisingly being tipped as a possibility. Marini - currently second in the Italian Moto3 championship - made his grand prix debut as a wild-card last time at Misano, but fell at the first turn.

Teams wishing to enter next year's Moto2 or Moto3 World Championships submitted their requests at the San Marino Grand Prix. Further details on the 2014 entries will be made available after the next selection meeting at the Malaysian Grand Prix, in October.

However the official MotoGP website has confirmed that the new VR46/Sky team "has already forwarded an official entry application to MotoGP governing body the FIM and commercial rights holder Dorna Sports in order to participate in the Moto3 class."

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Five-time World Champion Mick Doohan is convinced Valentino Rossi still has a lot to offer in MotoGP.

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Nine-times Champion Rossi is coming off a disappointing 2013 season where he finished third in the standings behind Marc Marques, Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa.

While his Yamaha team-mate Lorenzo won eight races despite battling injury midway through the season, the Italian's victory at Assen was his only one of the campaign. It has naturally led to question marks over his future not only at Yamaha, especially with his contract running out at the end of 2014, but also in MotoGP.

Doohan is confident Rossi can return to the front if he gets the right machinery, but he concede that the 34-year-old is probably no longer prepared to push himself too hard.

"He can't like not winning although the sport needs him and he has still got as many fans as ever. The sport will be a poorer place without him. I'm sure fourth is not good enough in Valentino's mind, but it is a hell of a lot better than where he was last year," Doohan told motorcyclenews.com.

"I think his experience is against him in terms of how far he is prepared to push himself and how long he wants to stay in the sport. But you never doubt Valentino. I have no doubt if they could get the bike to exactly his liking he could push more but he knows if he pushes any further he will go down the road.

"Valentino's experience though may mean he is not prepared to push as hard as those top three guys. They are still in the 'want and need' part of their careers rather than in the 'it would be great to do that again' part of their careers."

Biography of Rossi

Born on: 16th Feb 79

Born in: Italy

Marital status: Single

Occupation: Motorsports

Perhaps, the most dominant rider of the modern era Valentino Rossi is also the most successful and highest earning motorcycle racer in the world. The nine-time MotoGP World Champion earns millions as salary bonuses and endorsement money from companies such as Fiat and energy drink Monster in addition to his race winnings.

Rossi's other sponsors like Dainese and Kera Koll pour in a few millions as well. Among the top 10 highest earning sportspersons of 2011, Rossi is also Italy’s richest athlete. The Doctor, The Criminal and many other nicknames which have made the maverick rider popular, Rossi is equally peculiar about his helmet design whose graphics are designed by Aldo Drudi.

The fastest man on two wheels is an avid lover of cars. His latest possession is a Ferrari 458 Italia in addition to a BMW M3 Sedan that was gifted to him. Rossi has recently made a new addition to his list of toys in the form of a Pershing 56 luxury yacht that he purchased for $2.2 million.

Rossi suffered a career threatening injury in 2010 when he broke his leg but despite that he still managed to rake in $35 million and gained respect from the world and his fellow athletes. He recovered from another precarious situation in 2007 when a tax evasion probe found Rossi having undisclosed earnings of $160 million from 2000 to 2004. He paid an estimated $60 million to close the case and avoid possible jail term. Rossi, a native of Italy, is extremely fond of his country and everything about it. From his inhibited fondness for Italian football club Internazionale to his passion for Ferrari and even the girls he has dated, most of whom have been stunning Italian actresses, Rossi is one legendary Italian for sure.