Valentino Rossi still the highest paid MotoGP rider
Three motorsport stars feature in the top 20 of the latest Forbes Highest Paid Athletes list - including MotoGP's Valentino Rossi.
Rossi is listed as joint 20th alongside F1 legend Michael Schumacher, with Ferrari F1 star Fernando Alonso the highest ranking motorsport representative, in 19th place.
The Spaniard is quoted as receiving total earnings of $32 million between June 2011 and June 2012, comprising $29 million in Salary/winnings plus $3 million in endorsements.
Rossi and Mercedes driver Schumacher are said to have made $30 million during the same period.
Forbes claims that Rossi's Ducati contract pays him $17 million annually and that the former seven time MotoGP champion, who has struggled since leaving Yamaha in 2010, made a further $13 million in endorsements.
Rossi has taken two podiums since joining Ducati, while Schumacher has yet to feature on the rostrum since his 2010 F1 return.
The top earning NASCAR driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr, was ranked 23rd with earnings of $28.2 million. Then came McLaren F1 driver Lewis Hamilton, in joint 24th with $28 million.
After Hamilton, there were no other F1 or MotoGP stars in the top 100, which required a minimum income of $16.6 million.
Floyd Mayweather topped the list, having made a reputed ?85 million between June 2011 and 2012, with fellow Boxer Manny Pacquiao in second place. Those two aside, most of the top ten consisted of athletes that face only a slim risk of physical harm...
Forbes Highest Paid Athletes - Top 10:
1. Floyd Mayweather (Boxing) $85m
2. Manny Pacquiao (Boxing) $62m
3. Tiger Woods (Golf) $59.4m
4. LeBron James (NBA) $53m
5. Roger Federer (Tennis) $52.7m
6. Kobe Bryant (NBA) $52.3m
7. Phil Mickelson (Golf) $47.8m
8. David Beckham (Football) $46m
9. Cristiano Ronaldo (Football) $42.5m
10. Peyton Manning (NFL) $42.4m
Peter has been in the paddock for 20 years and has seen Valentino Rossi come and go. He is at the forefront of the Suzuki exit story and Marc Marquez’s injury issues.
