From a press release issued by Honda Racing:

Rossi Meets Fans in Leicester Square

MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi spent the afternoon meeting his fans and supporters in the heart of London’s West End. Following a Thames boat ride with the media Rossi jumped onto a Honda Gold Wing and rode to Leicester Square to meet with the 4,500 MotoGP race fans packed into the Capitol’s famous square.

Resident in London for the last two years, Rossi will make his sole 2003 race appearance in his adopted England at the British Grand Prix at Donington Park on Sunday. The intense competition in this season’s MotoGP class has attracted spectators in ever increasing numbers, with race crowds averaging well over 100,000. Donington Park is expecting the largest grand prix attendance ever with over 45,000 tickets already sold.

“This is the second time I’ve met the fans in Leicester Square and the response this time has been amazing,” revealed 24-year-old Rossi. “I live in London a lot of the time and so the race on Sunday is like a second home grand prix for me.”

Four times World Champion Rossi spent over an hour in the square answering fans questions, signing autographs and handing out prizes.

The Italian is chasing a hat-trick of victories at Donington on Sunday having won the MotoGP race last year and the 500cc race the previous year, riding the 200mph plus 990cc Repsol Honda. Rossi has also won 125 and 250cc grands prix at Donington en route to World Championship victories.

The intense competition in this season’s MotoGP class has attracted spectators in ever increasing numbers, with race crowds averaging well over 100,000. With over 45,000 tickets already sold Donington Park are expecting their largest motorcycle grand prix attendance ever.

“I love Donington and I love racing in England,” explained Rossi who’s already won 53 grands prix and who leads this year’s World Championship by 38 points. “It’s a fantastic circuit and I really like the special atmosphere at British races. I’m chasing a hat-trick this year and I want to say thank you to all the fans who turned up in Leicester Square, by winning the race for them on Sunday.”