Lewis Hamilton ‘super excited’ by MotoGP demo opportunity

World Champion Lewis Hamilton says he is “super excited” by the prospect of his upcoming chance to sample MotoGP machinery, as part of a promotional event with Valentino Rossi.

An event is due to take place at Valencia’s Ricardo Tormo Circuit in December courtesy of drinks brand Monster, which is a sponsor of both Hamilton and Rossi’s Yamaha MotoGP operation.

Hamilton is due to climb aboard Yamaha’s MotoGP machinery while Rossi is set to get behind the wheel of a Mercedes Formula 1 car.

Hamilton has long expressed an interest in bikes and sampled Yamaha’s Superbike last year at Jerez.

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Rossi, meanwhile, participated in several official test sessions with Ferrari in the mid-late 2000s, and was briefly considered for a move to the championship.

“I am super excited by it,” said Hamilton. “I’ve been riding bikes for the last couple of years, I’ve only done three days on track, but they have been incredible and I am always watching MotoGP.

“It is great as there is a small group of us within the team that love riding and it is something I’ve always wanted to generally do since I was really young.

“It is really hardcore so I am just… just being on the same track at the same time as Valentino is going to be very, very surreal and a real honour.

“He is such an icon in the sport and he has done so much for it, and it will be cool to see him in my car.”

Reigning MotoGP champion Marc Marquez last year sampled Formula 1 machinery with Toro Rosso while Jorge Lorenzo got behind the wheel of Mercedes’ W05 at Silverstone.

Fernando Alonso briefly trialled Repsol Honda’s MotoGP bike at the end of 2015 and 2016 as part of Honda’s Thanks Day celebrations at Motegi.