Rossi Wins SuperKart Exhibition Race at Laguna Seca

Reigning MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi made a winning start of this racing weekend at Laguna Seca. However, he did not do it on two wheels, but on four, as he took the chequered flag in the SuperKart ‘exhibition’ race on Thursday.

The Italian ace competed against three MotoGP legends during yesterday's event, Wayne Rainey, Eddie Lawson and Kenny Roberts Sr. The four MotoGP champions all used to ride for Japanese manufacturer Yamaha – Rossi still is – and competed in a one-lap sprint on the Laguna Seca circuit.

Just like it happened during Rossi's 100th MotoGP win at Assen, the Italian crossed the finish line way ahead of his competitors. The reason for that, argued Rainey afterwards, was Rossi's breaking the deal between the 4 riders prior to the race.

“We had a plan, and it didn’t quite work. We were all going to stay together, but suddenly we looked round and said ‘where did Valentino go?” said Lawson, according to MotoGP's official site.

“It was a lot of fun, getting to race against these guys, and against Valentino for the first time. I maybe wasn’t so fast today…fourth fastest,” added Lawson.

Hopefully for Yamaha, Rossi will build on his Thursday success and reiterate his first place at the chequered flag on Sunday also, as he is currently caught in a thrilling battle for the championship with teammate Jorge Lorenzo and Ducati's Casey Stoner. The Italian is leading the championship only 5 points ahead of Lorenzo and 9 ahead of Stoner.

Rossi won last year's race at Laguna Seca for the first time in career.