Inside Valentino Rossi’s 40th birthday party celebration

And according to some photo-watchers, there just might be a bit more to this than you think…

Photographs of the Rossi celebration for his 40th birthday have emerged in Italy with top site motociclismo.it posting various shots from the party.

Images have also appeared on the Instagram account of Rossi and his girlfriend Francesca Sofia Novello, the 25-year-old Italian model.

Among the gifts that Valentino was presented with at the bash were a mounted selection of motorcycle gloves, a specially-painted helmet and a Valentino Rossi-themed pinball machine.

It all looks like a nice party for the modern era’s greatest racer, but there’s already some speculation amongst Italian social media about another possible celebration for the nine-times-world champion – an engagement to his famous girlfriend.

Whilst there’s been no mention of anything of the sort by either Rossi or Novello, the model is seen in the photos from the party wearing a ring on the third finger of her left hand.