The GOAT does it again at Bathurst!

Long time friend of Carl Cox Motorsport, MotoGP GOAT Valentino Rossi, just wrapped up a dramatic weekend at the 2026 Bathurst 12 Hour, where he secured third place - making it two podiums running!

Vale shared the driving in the stunning Team WRT BMW M4 GT3 with teammates Raffaele Marciello and Augusto Farfus had an eventful race! 

His race was anything but boring. He had a "hairy" battle with Supercars star and another ex CCMS driver Cam Waters, Rossi reported a close call with a kangaroo during the second hour of the race, narrowly avoiding the animals that caused several other incidents.

It was also a Birthday Podium as the race took place just hours before his 47th birthday (16 February), making the podium finish a special celebratory gift.

Maybe an unlikely pairing to some, Carl and Vale go way back…. The pair first met when Rossi, a huge fan of Cox’s music, snuck into the DJ booth at an Italian nightclub near his home. Cox recalls someone repeatedly pulling on his trouser leg; it was Rossi, crouching down to avoid being spotted by the crowd!

Since then VR46 has couch surfed at Carl’s Melbourne home during the Phillip Island MotoGP and seen him play several times including in Ibiza.

Carl was a massive 500GP fan back in the day, had previously stated Rossi was his "racing hero." The two often catch up at major events like the Australian MotoGP at Phillip Island or the Le Mans 24 Hours.

The "Rossi Ranch": Cox is a frequent visitor to Rossi's Motor Ranch in Tavullia, recently spending time there in late 2025 to test drive BMW M-series cars and practice drifting.

Long may their friendship run and it’s fantastic to see the Old Goat still logging podiums!