MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi says he is living in fear after threats were made against him.

Rossi is receiving police protection after he was named in letters sent by an anarchist organisation.

The letters were sent with parcel bombs to the Italian offices of Spanish airline Iberia.

The letters referred to Rossi and his Honda team, who have links with Spanish oil giant Repsol.

They have advised me not to speak to anyone and not meet anyone MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi

"Certainly I have fear, because there is nothing I can do to change this situation," Rossi told the Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper on Wednesday.

Rossi's Honda team are sponsored by Repsol and reports say that the threatening letters urged Rossi to change his sponsor.

"I am being accused of having a contract with Repsol but that is absolutely untrue," said Rossi.

"I have my hands tied - my relationship is exclusively with Honda and I certainly can't choose their sponsors."

Security measures

The security measures that have been put in place around Rossi meant that he had to miss an Italian sports gala last week and the 23-year-old admitted he was finding it hard.

"I don't like having to behave in this way but they have advised me not to speak to anyone and not meet anyone," he said.

"This is could have been the only spell of holiday for me after a hard season and prior to another one which looks like being even more difficult. Instead, however, there is nothing."