Valentino Rossi had the honour of beating eight-time World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb on two of the nine Monza Rally stages as he claimed second position at the 2011 running of t🐻he an🌃nual event.

The former MotoGP champion returned to four-wheels for this year's event, held over nine asphalt stages marked out over the legendary Italian circuit, driving a Fordꦗ Fiesta RS WRC, emblazoned with personal sponsors and, poignantly, decals in honour of the late Marco Simoncelli.

Despite some accomplished oppo💙sition, including rallying legend Loeb, Rossi showed impressive form over the event, twice beating the Frenchman on t🐷he longest stage.

Eventually, Loeb would 𒊎end up the winner ove🍎rall by 24.2secs over Rossi, who nonetheless had the pleasure of beating Le Mans racer and Monza Rally regular Dindo Capello and even factory MINI driver Dani Sordo, a WRC podium winner in 2011.

Elsewhere, new Tech 3 Yamaha rider Andrea Dovizioso finished 54th overall and 23rd in class driving a 💦Peugeot 207 S2000, with Moto2 riders Andrea Iannone (Peugeot) and Claudio Corti (Renault) finishing 58th and 60th.