Valentino Rossi, aka The DoctorClosing in on the century mark
Grand Prix racing
From Motorcycle-USA.com
Posted by ALATAMENTE at fanclubvalentinorossi.com The reigning MotoGP World Champion, Valentino Rossi is the man whom every other rider is aspiring to defeat in 2009.
Rossi's natural skill, charisma and flair has already made him a huge fan favourite, and he is already one of the sport’s true greats. His career has been defined by record breaking achievements, particularly in the premier class.
Conqueror of the 125cc, 250cc and 500cc/MotoGP World Championships in his second season in each category, Rossi became only the second rider in the history of motorcycling to lift all three titles. He is now the only man to win the premier class MotoGP World Championship with 500cc, 990cc and 800cc machinery, returning to the pinnacle after two seasons away with his sixth MotoGP title in 2008. En route to his latest title, the Italian took the record for all-time premier class victories from Giacomo Agostini, incidentally the only other rider to have regained the title after two dry seasons, with a 69th triumph.
(Copyright © 2001 Dorna Sports S.L.)
Career Highlights:
2007 - 3rd MotoGP
2006 - 2nd MotoGP
2005 - MotoGP Champion
2004 - MotoGP Champion
2003 - MotoGP Champion
2002 - MotoGP Champion
2001 - 500cc Moto GP Champion
2001 - Suzuka 8 Hour Champion
2000 - 2nd 500 Moto GP
1999 - 250 Moto GP Champion
1998 - 2nd 250 Moto GP
1997 - 125 Moto GP Champion
1996 - 9th 125 MotoGP
1995 - 3rd European 250 Championship
1995 - Italian 125 Sport Production Champion
1994 - Italian 125 Sport Production Champion
(Source Motorcycle-USA.com)
His career remarkably zoomed to glorious heights ever since he kick-started his racing at the age of two. Thanks to the inspiration and support from his father, Graziano Rossi himself a former motorcycle racer and mother Stefania. By the end of his eleventh year, the little champion had already won 16 regional races.
His growing years have further necessitated him to acquire a new motorcycle of his own, a Cagiva Mito 125cc to launch his racing career professionally. It was Sandroni of Aprilia team, who discovered the brilliant fifteen-year-old racer in 1994 and offered him to ride for his team Aprilia. At the age of 16, Rossi won the 1995 Italian 125cc class championship and became the youngest ever to achieve the feat.
Moving on to the 125cc class world championships in 1996, Valentino Rossi fared pretty well in his debut season with a sole race win at Czech Republic and further finished six times in top ten positions. The following year Rossi proved his racing abilities by taking 11 race wins out of 15 and two podium finishes, which ultimately won him the 1997 world championship title in 125cc class.
Soaring high on confidence Rossi made his grand entry in 1998 in 250cc class world championships for Aprilia. Once again Rossi dominated the season with his brilliant performance taking 5 race wins out of 14, and 3 second place, and a podium position he finally finished the 250cc debut season in overall 2nd position conceding the title to Loris Capirossi. His retirement from five races during the season might probably have cost him the championship title.
Rossi showed remarkable consistency in his form and speed the following year, posting 3 podium finishes and winning nine out of 16 races. With those achievements he walked away with the 250cc class world championship title in 1999.
After having proven his class at the 125cc and 250cc levels Rossi was all set to take the big leap into the 500cc MotoGp Championships. Having given two championship titles for Aprilia team, Rossi decided to don the armor-of-winning for Honda in his debut season of 500cc class MotoGP World Championships in 2000. Taking two race wins out of 16 and finishing with 8 podium places Rossi finished the 2000 MotoGP season in 2nd position.
The following year Rossi, the lightening speedster set 10 fastest laps taking 11 race wins out of 16 and in addition to two podium finishes; he finally clinched the MotoGP World Championship title from Kenny Roberts Jr in 2001. From here there was no turning back for this brilliant racing prodigy, for he left every other racer miles behind and went on to win the World Championship titles for the next four years until 2005. It was Nicky Hayden in 2006 coming from behind and whizzed past the seven-time World Champion and ended his glorious run of wins on wheels by winning the 2006 MotoGp championship.
(From Moto Gp Official Site at (C) 2007 valentino-rossi.ws)
MotoGP 2008
Valentino Rossi at Malaysian track
Copyright © 2001 Dorna Sports S.L
Victory at SepangRossi celebrates 2008 win number 9
From Motorcycle-USA.com
Fiat Yamaha's Valentino Rossi (above) picked up win number nine in 2008 with an impressive victory over Repsol Honda's Dani Pedrosa and JiR Honda's Andrea Dovizioso under sweltering-hot conditions at the Sepang Circuit in Malaysia. Pedrosa actually started out strong and look impressive leading the race early on. But Rossi had little trouble tracking him down and eventually made the pass on the Spaniard at the halfway point and never looked back.
(From Motorcycle-USA.com)
Since his dominance in 500 cc and MotoGP, Rossi has used the nickname "The Doctor." This has been attributed to his "cold and clinical dismantling of his opponents" as well as his cool and calm composure in racing compared to his frenetic days in 125 cc and 250 cc where his performance was erratic and dangerous, resulting in numerous crashes. Two theories prevail as to why Rossi is entitled to "The Doctor." One is that Rossi adopted the nickname upon having earned a degree, which in Italy entitles one to use the title "Doctor.." Another, as spoken by Graziano himself, "The Doctor because, I don't think there is a particular reason, but it's beautiful, and is important, The Doctor. And in Italy, The Doctor is a name you give to someone for respect, it's very important, The Doctor... important". Although Valentino often jokes that the name arrived because in Italy, Rossi is a common surname for Doctors. These days Rossi rarely crashes and in fact holds the record for the longest streak of consecutive podiums. From September 8, 2002 to April 18, 2004, he stood on the podium at the end of all 23 races including every race in 2003.
Valentino Rossi No:46
Posted by guitargodmitch
January 11, 2007
© 2008 YouTube, LLC
He has always raced with the number #46 in his motorcycle grand prix career. Rossi has stated that the original inspiration for this choice of number was the Japanese "wild card" racer Norifumi Abe whom he saw on television speeding past much more seasoned riders in a wet race. He later found out that it was the number his father had raced with in the first of his 3 grand prix career wins, in 1979, in Yugoslavia, on a 250c Morbidelli. Typically, a World Championship winner (and also runner-up and third place) is awarded the #1 sticker for the next season. However, in a homage to Barry Sheene (who was the first rider of the modern era to keep the same number, #7), Rossi has stayed with the now-famous #46 throughout his career. The text on his helmet refers to the name of his group of friends: "The Tribe of the Chihuahua," and the letters WLF on his leathers stand for "Viva La Figa," Italian for "Long Live Pussy." He has so far escaped any sanctions or ultimatums that he remove the letters because the "W" in "WLF" represents the two "V"s in "ViVa". Equally obvious is his success at escaping any disciplinary action from the FIM or Dorna for having the letters so brazenly on the front neck area of his leathers. He traditionally also incorporates his favorite color (fluorescent yellow) into his leather designs. Though Rossi won the MotoGP title six times he never put the number 1 on his motorcycle representing the World Champion, instead staying with his famous "46". But Rossi has worn the #1 reserved for the reigning World Champion on the shoulder of his racing leathers.
Fellow motorcycle racer and former team mate Colin Edwards refers to him as The GOAT (Greatest Of All Time).
Special Valentino Rossi
© 2009 Metacafe Inc. powered by You
Rossi is a very superstitious person and his pre-ride rituals are well known. Prior to riding (whether racing, qualifying, or practice), he will start his personal ritual by stopping at about 2 metres from his bike, bend over and reach his boots (thus the 2004 TV spoiler "Are you ready boots?"). Then, when arriving at his bike, he will crouch down and hold the right-side foot-peg, with his head bowed. It is not known whether he is in silent prayer, if he is getting in the correct frame-of-mind needed to ride, or paying respect to a fellow racer, family member, or friend. He will also be adjusting the fit of his leathers by standing straight up on the foot-pegs, whilst riding the pit-lane before the start of race or practice; this may merely be a matter of comfort, which has become a much-commented upon habit. He also revealed in an interview with MotoGP.com that he always puts one boot on before the other, one glove on before the other, and he always gets on the bike the same way. He also gets off the bike in the same way, swinging his right leg over the front of the bike.
Valentino Rossi Tribute
posted by PIT0987
October 17, 2007
© 2008 YouTube, LLC
Records:
125 cc records: Rossi is
1. First in most race wins in a season with 11 race wins in 1997.
2. Second in most podiums in a season with 13 podiums in 1997, behind Álvaro Bautista with 14 podiums in 2006.
250 cc records: Rossi is
1. Third in most race wins in a season with 9 race wins in 1999 along with Jorge Lorenzo, Marco Melandri and Max Biaggi, behind Daijiro Kato with 11 race wins in 2001, Anton Mang and Mike Hailwood with 10 race wins in 1981 and 1966 respectively.
2. Second most podiums in a season with 12 podiums in 1999 along with Jorge Lorenzo, Marco Melandri, Shinya Nakano, Max Biaggi, Luca Cadalora, John Kocinski and Sito Pons, behind Dani Pedrosa, Tetsuya Harada, Daijiro Kato and Ralf Waldmann with 13 podiums in 2004, 2001, 2001 and 1996 respectively.
500 cc/MotoGP records: Rossi is
1. Second in all time world championship wins with 6 world championships, behind Giacomo Agostini with 8 world championships.
2. Second in consecutive world championship wins with 5 consecutive world championships in 2001-2005 along with Michael Doohan with 5 consecutive world championships in 1994-1998, behind Giacomo Agostini with 7 consecutive world championships in 1966-1972.
3. First in all time race wins standings with 71 race wins. Giacomo Agostini is second with 68 race wins.
4. First in all time podium standings with 115 podiums in premier class.
5. First in most podiums in a season with 16 podiums in 2003, 2005 and 2008.
6. First in most fastest laps in a season with 12 fastest laps in 2003.
7. First in most points in one season 373 points in 2008.
8. Second in all time pole positions standings with 41 pole positions, behind Michael Doohan with 58 pole positions.
9. Second in all time race fastest laps standings with 58 race fastest laps, behind Giacomo Agostini with 69 race fastest laps.
10. Second in most race wins in a season with 11 race wins in 2001, 2002 and 2005 along with Giacomo Agostini, behind Michael Doohan with 12 race wins in 1997.
11. Third in most pole positions in a season with 9 pole positions in 2003 along with Michael Doohan and Kevin Schwantz, behind Michael Doohan with 12 pole positions in 1997, Wayne Gardner and Freddie Spencer with 10 pole positions in 1987 and 1985 respectively.
Other records: Rossi is
1. The only rider to win World Championship titles in four different classes: 125 cc, 250 cc, 500 cc & MotoGP
2. The only rider to win consecutive races with different manufacturers. He won the final race of 2003 with Honda at Valencia and the first race of 2004 with Yamaha at Welkom (South Africa).
3. The only rider to win championships with the 3 different engines used in MotoGP history, 500cc 2 stroke (2001), 800cc 4stroke (2008) and 990cc 4 stroke (2002/03/04/05)
4. The only rider to win seven consecutive races at his home Grand Prix at Mugello in 2002-2008.
5. The only rider to win three races after starting the race from 11th or lower on the grid (British GP 2001, German GP 2006 & Dutch TT 2007).
6. The only rider to win the premier-class title on four different types of motorcycle: A Honda 500cc four-cylinder two-stroke (2001), Honda 990cc five-cylinder four-stroke (2002, 2003), Yamaha 990cc four-cylinder four-stroke (2004, 2005) and a Yamaha 800cc four-cylinder four-stroke (2008).
Valentino Rossi Wins Moto GP 08'
© 2009 Metacafe Inc. powered by You
7. The second rider to win consecutive world championships with different manufacturers (2001-2003 with Honda and 2004-2005 with Yamaha) along with Eddie Lawson (1988 with Yamaha and 1989 with Honda).
8. The second rider in history - after Giacomo Agostini - to regain the premier-class crown after two successive defeats.
9. Yamaha's most successful rider in the premier class with 38 wins,and 3 titles (2004/05/08).
10. Aprilia's most successful rider in all classes with 26 wins (12 125 cc and one title 1997, and 14 in 250cc and one title 1999).
11. From all the riders in activity still he is Honda's most successful rider in all classes with 33 wins (13 500cc, 20 MotoGP), and 3 world titles (2001 500cc, 2002 2003 MotoGP).
Rossi leads Stoner at LagunaBest of GP racing of the season
From Motorcycle-USA.com
Valentino Rossi has won a lot of Grand Prix, but never here in the US of A. That all changed on Sunday in one of the best races of the season. It was an epic battle but The Doctor bested Casey Stoner, scoring his first career USGP win. The final podium position was snatched up by Rizla Suzuki's Chris Vermeulen.
The beginning of the 32-lap race did little to dissuade the belief that Stoner would be denied the win, the Aussie having dominated practice and qualifying - not to mention last year's USGP. Stoner jumped off the line to snare the holeshot, with Rossi sneaking ahead of two-time USGP winner Nicky Hayden in the first corner. Lap 1 was a frantic endeavor as riders jockeyed for position, including the front-running duo, with Rossi sliding past his championship rival in the famed corkscrew.
With nine laps to go, again Stoner challenged Rossi, but The Doctor refused to budge. The result was yet more side-by-side racing, but Stoner's aggressive maneuvering resulted in a trackside run-off at Turn 11 - the reigning champ tucking the front end and forced to pick up his bike in the gravel. Stoner got back on the track, with eight laps to go and Rossi 16 seconds ahead.
An off-track run-offThe turning point for Stoner
The Aussie was able to remount and finish second
From Motorcycle-USA.com
The line through the corkscrewIt worked out for Vale this time around
From Motorcycle-USA.com
Dropping down the corkscrew for the final time in 2008, Rossi rocketed past the finish line with a stand-up wheelie - The Doctor celebrating his first ever USGP victory. Taking his victory lap, Rossi made a pit stop at the corkscrew, getting down on his hands and knees to kiss the ground where he passed for the lead and almost kissed another USGP good-bye.
(From Motorcycle-USA.com)
Overall records:
1. Fifth in all time world championship wins with 8 world championships along with Phil Read, behind Carlo Ubbiali and Mike Hailwood with 9 world championships, Ángel Nieto with 13 world championships and Giacomo Agostini with 15 world championships.
2. Second in all time race wins standings with 97 race wins, behind Giacomo Agostini with 122 race wins.
3. Second in all time podium standings with 151 podiums, behind Giacomo Agostini with 159 podiums. Ángel Nieto is third with 139 podiums.
4. Third in all time pole positions standings with 51 pole positions, behind Michael Doohan with 58 pole positions and Max Biaggi with 56 pole positions.
5. Fourth in all time fastest laps standings with 77 fastest laps, behind Giacomo Agostini with 117 fastest laps, Ángel Nieto with 81 fastest laps and Mike Hailwood with 79 fastest laps.
(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
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