Tyler Hopper
AllAboutBikes Staff-Writer

The Grand Prix de France welcomed racers today, with one rider taking a detour on his way to Le Mans. Valentino Rossi stopped in Paris for a rip and tearing ride through the streets organized by his sponsor, Monster. Rossi thoroughly enjoyed himself, despite a few rain drops, as he sped down the Champs-Élysées and laid rubber in front of the Eiffel Tower. “It was quite dangerous and slippery out there with the rain, but I managed to do a little burn-out by the Eiffel Tower. I did try a little wheelie too, but I was out on the roads with the police so I couldn’t be too naughty!” remarked Rossi after his rip and tear through the street.

After his stint through the streets, Rossi had to hot-foot it over to Le Mans for a press conference. Awaiting his arrival were Casey Stoner, Colin Edwards, Randy De Puniet and Marco Melandri, along with the media. Each man was confident in his chances of reaching the podium at the Le Mans circuit. Stoner said, “You can change things around anytime. This is quite a difficult track for me, and maybe that’s something to do with me not being able to get my head around the circuit. We’ve had lot of podium opportunities at this track, but never managed the result that we want. I seem to flow well here, but come race day we haven’t got it together. This year we’re confident of being competitive –the result in Jerez proved that.”

Along with Stoner and Rossi, Randy De Puniet is under the watchful eye of the press at Le Mans. Coming off of a podium finish in Spain, De Puniet is hoping to have a good race at home in France. Each of the five men at the press conference have an equal chance at winning the Le Mans circuit, as we have witnessed before, anything can happen.