Despite having retired from two-wheeled racing, Valentino Rossi's VR46 brand is still one of the most recognizable on the planet. Now he is planning to expand his online presence with the VR46 Metaverse

Valentino Rossi's VR46 Brand Moves into the Metaverse

Valentino Rossi was always much more than a motorcycle racer: he was an entrepreneur and one of the most saleable brands in motorsport. That business success will continue long after he hangs up whatever helmet he is wearing (currently it is a GT racing helmet).

Not content with running the VR46 Racing Academy, which fosters up-and-coming Italian racing talent, and the VR46 teams currently racing in Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP, not to mention his own continuing racing efforts in GT cars and his huge merchandise business, he recently launched the VR46 Metaverse in collaboration with Italian media holding group The Hundred, reinforcing the VR46 brand in the fast rising digital and virtual world.

Rossi has always been one to acknowledge the support of his legions of fans and this new move will offer fans interactive and engaging online content. The new project is devoted to generating and developing original and entertaining content around the VR46 brand in the Metaverse, gaming universe, and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) ecosystem.

Speaking to PR News Wire, Rossi said: "Entering this massive project is an exciting venture that I've decided to embark on with a structured approach, in partnership with high-level players. I am thrilled to be able to reach fans all over the world, bringing them the atmosphere and enthusiasm of VR46 through new technologies."

The first pieces of material are due in 2022. The goal of the VR46 Metaverse is to create a global platform dedicated to "The Doctor," the VR46 Racing Team, and the VR46 Academy within the virtual space, where fans of Valentino Rossi can meet the VR46 official riders, interact with fellow fans and enthusiasts, and even race against one another once the brand's gaming initiatives are in place.

It's by no means anything new for a sportsman to take his brand to the next level and, with Rossi's fanbase around the world, this is surely going to be yet another huge success for him.