No.4 Whole Lotta Rossi

Richard Dawson
Jan 4
4 min read

2025 A New Year and a new blog post!

This week I caught up with Daniel Rossi to discuss the details of his exciting move into the British Superbike paddock to race in the BMW F900R Cup with DForce DRP Racing.

BMW F900R Race bike on track — Dani on the BMW at Anglesey

It's a Long Way to the Top...

So how did your biking journey begin?

“I was 16, I had a Honda Melody 50, my first job and a computer,” Dani explained. A search for clubs to race with led to Dani finding the Wirral 100 Motor Club and a plan was made!

“I worked my way up the job ladder, started doing a few trackdays, got a race license and a Honda CB500.”

I imagine that this is a well trodden path for many aspiring racers, sadly what makes Dani’s story remarkable is that despite his Dad being killed on a bike when Dani was young, meaning biking was a taboo subject for the family; memories of Dad’s golden Yamaha Fazer 600 stayed with him and inspired Dani to pursue his racing career.

Honda CB500 Bike racer — July '23 - The Orange Bib days, complete with Tango bottle.

Are You Ready…

I’ve enjoyed following and photographing Dani’s progress in the Wirral 100 CB500 Championship for the last two seasons and was intrigued to find out why he decided to make the step up into the F900R Cup.

“I really, really, really enjoy racing and loved my CB500!” Dani continued, but some engine problems at Oulton Park triggered a change of direction.

“At Oulton Park Wirral 100 my CB500’s engine started cutting out and making grinding noises. I had to abandon the race and go home. I found a second hand engine on eBay for £300, but it got lost in the post!! I then opened up my laptop to eBay like I always do and look at bikes, and behold a beautiful BMW F900R in Motorrad green, I had to have it... but I didn't realistically have the money to run it for the year in BSB.”

The bike was ready!!

The conversations had taken place with BMW Series Manager Steve Plater but the budget wasn’t going to stretch until another piece of the puzzle fell into place.

Honda CB500 Racer at Oulton Park — The CB500 at Oulton Park.

Money Talks…

How do you go about putting together a race budget?

“The first sponsorship email I sent out for 2025 and the opportunity I have going into next year, and it was a hit”

Dani’s request for sponsorship 'hit' with Andy Draper Founder and Director of dForce Limited.

“Andy and I hit it off straight away and suddenly I've now got the means to sort my entry fees and fuel bill for the rest of the year.”

There is also a tyre bill to factor in and Club 17 has been set up to give supporters the chance to help Dani out with packages starting at £19.99. Go to DRPracing.co.uk or Dani’s socials for more information.

Shoot To Thrill...

So it’s all systems go for the new season! but what targets has Dani set for himself in a Championship that has featured some prestigious talent since its inception. In 2023 Richard Cooper took the title followed by Thomas Strudwick’s success last season. Dani will be following in the tyre tracks of Troy Corser, Michael Rutter and Dom Herbertson who have all raced the F900R.

“The target? First of all, to have fun, but I want to be the best version of myself, the last few times I rode my CB500 I took it seriously, I studied the data and I focused on myself and for the first time I started slowly getting faster and more confident, I want to keep the trend going into BSB and just do the best I can.”

Dani has completed some testing on the BMW already and made some big changes to the suspension settings, with more testing planned before the start of the season.

“I just hope to qualify for the main race each weekend, and hopefully at the end of the year start fighting for the points. It's a big ask but nothing is impossible!”

Nothing is impossible, but it’s only made possible by team work and Dani’s final words were dedicated to Team Boss Rose Dobbins - “Thanks to my amazing fiancée Rose for coming to my races, taking care of me, helping with the bike, and always picking me up when I'm down, without her I don't know where I'd be or what I'd be doing!”

Behind every great man is a great woman!!!

BMW F900R Racer at Anglesey Circuit — A test for the new bike and the new DRP Leathers

A big Thank you to Dani for taking the time to chat to me for the blog, I look forward to watching, photographing and documenting his progress throughout 2025.

An apology from me to you, the reader and to Dani’s Fiancée Rose, I took the Whole Lotta Rosie AC/DC pun and ran with it throughout the article. It was a Shot in the Dark and probably not a very funny one!!!