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Rossi
was
honored ar the annual Laureus
world
V Spons Awards
in
Barcelona. Sparn, on
Mond^y, Ylay 22.
The World Champion
received
the
"Spirit
of
Spon" award
for r.ising the
protile
of MotoGP during
his five-year
World
Championship
reign.
The
Camel
Yamaha rider llew immediately to Barcelona
after concluding a day's testint
in
Le
lYans, France, the day
before, and he entered the cerernony on a
Yamaha Rl
streetbike. Ro6ri accepted the award
,rom Yamahe's first
World
Champion, Giacomo ASostini, arld
Formula one
director Bemie Ecclestone.
Rossi
was a nominee
for the third year running in the
Volentino Rossi rode inlo lhe Lqureus
Awordl
ceremony on
o
Yomoho Rl.
"world
Sportsman of the
Year"
category but
lost out to Swiss tennis
player
Roger
Federer, who collected the
prize for
the second consecutive
year.
"l
am verl happy to
have
received this award
toni8ht," Rossi said arter the cer-
emon,
"and
very
proud
to be considered
such an important ambassador for our
sport. lt's also a
big
honor for me to be nominated once agajn for the marn
award
alongside such
great
sportsmen."
The Laureus Awards are the only
tlobal
awards
honoring the
Sreatest
sports-
men and
women
across the spectrum
of all sports each year. Among the
presen-
te6
at this yea.'s
ceremony
were actress Teri Hatcher and actor Cuba Goodint]r
King
Juan
Carlos of Spain, as well as a host of stars from the world of sport, includ-
in8 Michael
lohnson,
Bobby Charlton, Seve Ballesteros and Boris Becker, also
attended the award ceremony.
Ro55i hlk5 it over with Formulo One director Bernie E<
