Rossi becomes terrorist target.

Valentino Rossi appears to have become an unwitting - and unlikely - target of terrorists, having been singled out for mention in a note attached to a parcel bomb at Milan's Malpensa airport over the weekend.

According to reports in Italy's la Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper, the multiple MotoGP world champion's name was included in the threatening leaflet attached to the device, which was safely diffused, because of his links to team sponsor Repsol-YPF.

The bomb was sent to Spanish airline Iberia with a note suggesting that Rossi sever all ties with the oil company.

Rossi's immediate family and supporters expressed their surprise at the incident, but refused to make any official statement until more details had been uncovered.

"I do not know what to say," Rossi's father Graziano, himself a former bike racing champion, said, "I do not want to make any type of declaration yet, because I only learned of the incident when a friend of mine read about it in the newspaper."

"I am astonished at what we have learned from the newspapers," added Carlo Fiorani, team manager of Honda Europe and Rossi's Honda Repsol team, "I have nothing particular to say, expect to point out that Repsol is a sponsor of the Honda team and not of Valentino as an individual. However, this is not news that is relevant to the sport, and we know very little about what has happened."

Despite the apparent confusion surrounding the discovery of the note, measures are already being taken to ensure Rossi's safety.

The champion has been told to report his movements and members of the military police force in Pesaro have been assigned specific tasks, including the opening of mail addressed to him.