Rossi earned more last year than Beckham
MotoGP god's pay packet dominates football's fancy man
DAVID BECKHAM has got nothing on motorcycling's Valentino Rossi, according to an earnings survey by Forbes magazine. The article lists the top-earning sportsmen from June 2005 to June 2006, where top of the pile Tiger Woods trounced the opposition.
Rossi suffered in Honda's 'War on Rossi' during the 2006 season; a poor start to the season, mechanical problems and fast-from-nowhere Honda rivals all played a part in his downfall, breaking the Italian master's 5-year reign in MotoGP.
Despite not winning the championship, the Rossi-effect won't suffer for too long at the hands of Hayden, the 2006 champ.
"Jerry for sure you are 7,984th, now go sort my bike's front-end"
Rossi ranks on a par with Shaquille O'Neal and four places higher than football's most marketed player; David Beckham.
1. Tiger Woods (Golf) £45 million
2. Michael Schumacher (Motorsport) £29 million
3. Muhammad Ali (Boxing) £27 million
4. Phil Mickelson (Golf) £23 million
5. Michael Jordan (Basketball) £16 million
6. Kobe Bryant (Basketball) £15.5 million
7. Shaquille O'Neal (Basketball) £15 million
8. Valentino Rossi (Motorcycling) £15 million
9. Tom Brady (American football) £14.5 million
10. Alex Rodriguez (Baseball) £14.5 million
11. Carson Palmer (American football) £14 million
12. David Beckham (Football) £13.5 million
