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Valentino Rossi says his Misano Sprint Cup victory with BMW has reignited his season after recent setbacks.
Factory BMW driver Valentino Rossi expressed that his victory in the GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup race at Misano last weekend “changes the whole season” for him. He and Raffaele Maricello claimed the No. 46 WRT BMW M4 GT3 EVO’s top spot in the opening race by beating the No. 51 AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3 driven by Vincent Abril and Alessio Rovera. Starting from third on the grid, Rossi maintained his position and closed in on the leading Ferraris.
The race became a battle between Marciello and AF Corse’s Abril after the No. 74 Kessel Racing Ferrari dropped out of contention. Marciello overtook Abril with just six minutes left to clinch the victory, marking Rossi’s third consecutive win at Misano.
It was a significant breakthrough for Rossi in 2025, following setbacks at Le Mans and in the Spa 24 Hours. Despite a drivethrough penalty in the second Misano race, Rossi and Marciello finished 21st, missing out on a potential podium finish.
While lamenting the penalty, Rossi voiced his disappointment at missing out on another podium finish and possibly a second win of the weekend. As an one-off outing in the GTWCE Sprint Cup, Rossi’s primary focus in 2025 remains on the World Endurance Championship.
