Valentino Rossi # 46- part 1

Valentino Rossi #46

Because lets face it- there is so much to say about him that I couldn’t possibly put it all in just one blog-post.

Personal opinion: the 2008 world champion (and a few times before- well 8 but who’s counting- 6 times in the MotoGP, once in the 250 class and one in the 125 class). It is obvious he is a serious contender for the championship, but a lot of riders on the grid have marked him as the man to bit this year (and every year). One thing is for sure, that as long as vale aka Rossifumi aka Valentinik aka THE DOCTOR is on the track the crowd in the stands and at home are going to get a good show. (I will explain the nicknames in the next post- I promise).

about Vale

Valentino Rossi Bowling

After GP Win Spain

Valentino Rossi to the toilet

so lets start with the Biography- from http://www.rossifumi.nl/
Valentino Rossi is the youngest rider ever to win the world title in all three classes. At the age of 22 years old, Valentino Rossi became the last true worldchampion of the 500cc and reached his goal of winning in the 125cc, 250cc and 500cc class. In 2002 Valentino Rossi was the first rider ever, at the young age of 23 years, to win the MotoGP class.

Valentino loves everything that goes fast, off-road, rally or road racing; he's a genius on wheels. As a kid Valentino spends lots of time into the paddock as his father, Graziano Rossi was a works rider. Valentino Rossi started his career on a minibike at the coastal resorts near his home, Tavullia. He switched to 125 Sport Production to win the Italian national title in his second attempt in 1994. In 1995 he was the youngest ever Italian 125cc champion, and third in the European championship. He moved to the GP's in 1996.

Valentino Rossi won his first grand prix at the grand prix of the Czech Republic in his debut-season. His second year in the 125cc was very successful. With 12 grand prix victories and only missing out on the podium twice all year Valentino Rossi became worldchampion for the first time. Valentino Rossi amassed a huge amount of fans because of the way he celebrates his victories, his style and sense of humor.

After his 125cc world title Valentino Rossi moved up to the 250cc class on a factory Aprillia and by the end of the year he seemed to have achieved dominance, with four grand prix victories in a row and a second overall standing in the championship. The season of '99 started slowly, but after two races Valentino Rossi caught fire and dominated the rest of the year. With nine victories he became worldchampion in the 250cc.

Valentino Rossi moves to the 500cc to achieve his goal; become worldchampion in all three classes. Valentino Rossi swaps from an Aprillia factory bike to a Honda factory bike. He rides for pretty much the same team that took Mick Doohan to his world titles. Just like the previous classes Valentino Rossi needs one year to learn and one year to win the world championship.

In the year 2000 Valentino Rossi gets ten podium places and even two grand prix victories. With his second place in the championship Valentino Rossi becomes Rookie of the year. In the year 2001 'The Doctor' completes the trilogy with winning the championship at the age of 22 years. With taking this championship, Valentino Rossi is the last true 2-stroke worldchampion as in the year 2002 the 4-strokes will enter the MotoGP.

With the new class entering the grand prix in 2002, a new goal was set for Valentino: winning the MotoGP Class. Valentino started off the season with winning the first GP in a new area. The Honda 4-stroke of Valentino Rossi has been dominating all season, only finishing 2nd once in South Africa and crashing in the Czech Republic . In Brazil he wrapped up the championship after 10 victories this season.

In 2003 Valentino Rossi completely dominates the MotoGP class and adds another MotoGP world title to his name. But Valentino Rossi isn’t satisfied; the worldchampion is up for a new challenge. To every one’s disbelief he signs up with the less competitive Yamaha team. Valentino Rossi proves in his first ever race on the Yamaha M1 that the rider on the bike does matter by winning the grand prix of South Africa. Honda does everything to stop Valentino Rossi, but the doctor is simply unstoppable. Valentino Rossi writes history by winning the MotoGP world title on the Yamaha.

Although the MotoGP class is getting more and more competitive every year, so far there is no rider that can threaten the dominance that Valentino Rossi displays again in 2005. The fairytale simply continues. In 2005 Valentino Rossi wraps up his 7 th world title.

In 2006 the Doctor was the favorite to take the title down, but the season didn't go the way it was expected. Rossi finished 14th in Jerez after Toni Elias pushed him in the first corner and he finished 11th in Assen after he broke his wrist during the training session. Valentino Rossi had a couple of DNF's in Shanghai and Le Mans. But the 2005 world champion showed determination and despite all the bad luck he had in the first half of the season he worked his way back up into the top spot. With one race to go he was 8 points ahead of Nicky Hayden. In Valencia he crashed early in the race and Nicky Hayden grabbed the world title in 2006.

2007 was another hard year, with the changes in regulation, Yamaha didn't seam to be able to provide Rossi with a Bick that can catch up with Casey Stoners Ducati with the Bridgestone tires, in 2008 he moved to Bridgestone’s as well, caused a lot of problems in the Yamaha garage where they had to put a wall between his side and team meat Jorge Lorenzo, but the choice paid off in the end, despite a difficult start to the 2008 season he managed to find his grip with the new tires and win the title back.

Valentino Rossi has got an incredible style that is eye-catching and with his sense of humor and ways to celebrate his victories he amassed a huge group of fans.