Video: Valentino Rossi arrives at Ducati launch

This was the flash photography frenzy that greeted Valentino Rossi’s arrival at the Madonna di Campiglio ski resort in Italy last night ahead of the launch of the 2011 factory Ducati squad. 

• Pics: Valentino Rossi’s Ducati leathers unveiled

New team-mate Nicky Hayden and Ferrari Formula One duo Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa all made low key entrances when they attended a special buffet to mark the start of the annual Wroom event at the Relais Des Alpes hotel.

• Valentino Rossi pictured in Ducati red

But when Rossi arrived shortly before 10pm, he did so in a blaze of publicity with flashbulbs firing off to catch the first pictures of the nine-times world champion in his red Ducati uniform.

Rossi gave his first press conference offering his thoughts on his Ducati debut in Valencia back in early November this morning. He was barred from speaking immediately after the test because of his contract with Yamaha that didn’t expire until December 31.

Tomorrow (Wednesday) will see the official unveiling of the Ducati GP11 machine that Rossi and Hayden will campaign in the 2011 MotoGP world championship.

Warning: This video features images containing flash photography.