MotoGP star Valentino Rossi, yo𝕴unger brother Luca Marini and VR46 Riders Academy director Alessio Salucci missed out on a repeat of last year's class victory in the Gulf 12 Hours sportscar race.

But the trio, again driving a Monster VR46-backed Kessel Ferrari 488, did fight their way forwards from eighth on the grid to claim third in the 'Pro-Am' category and cross t🔯he finish line in fourth overall.

The #46 car made good progress during the opening six hours around the Bahrain International Circuit to be classified in fifth place (fourth in the 'Pro-Am' class) by the half-time break, albeit already a lap down on the cars ahead after a drive-through p෴enalty for exceeding track limits.

When the race restarted for the remaining six hours, held at night, the VR46 drivers were more comp💙etitive in the cooler conditions and gained one further position to secure the fin⛄al place on the 'Pro-Am' rostrum.

They were one lap down on the class-winning Dinamic Porsche 911 and two laps behind the 2 Seas Motorsport McLaren 720S GT3 of Isa Bin Abdulla Alkhalifa,🌸 Ben Barnicoat and Martin Kodrić, which took the overall race victory.

Rossi and MotoGP rookie Marini are schedu𝓰led to switch back to two-wheels next month for their respective debuts at Petronas Yamaha and Avintia Ducati, during the opening 2🐻021 pre-season test at Sepang in Malaysia (Covid restrictions permitting).

The new MotoGP season is then due to begin in Qatar, also venue for the ꦛfinal pre-season test, at the end of March.