Rossi nominated for World award

From motogp.com

Reigning MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi’s achievements in 2008 have been recognized with a nomination for the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award, an honour that will be decided at the 10th edition of the Laureus World Sports Awards.

Rossi was one of six sportsmen to be entered onto the final shortlist, following a ballot open to the world’s media in a record 112 countries. His rivals for the prize are Olympic gold medal winners Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps, plus Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton, ATP tennis world number one Rafael Nadal and footballer Cristiano Ronaldo.

It is not the first time that Rossi has been acknowledged by the selection panel; in 2006 he was named as the winner of the Laureus Spirit of Sport Award for his contribution to motorcycling.

Previous winners of the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award are Roger Federer, Michael Schumacher, Lance Armstrong and Tiger Woods.