Get-Well Valentino
The crash and injury suffered by Valentino Rossi during the Saturday MotoGP free practice at the Grand Prix of Italy (Mugello) has sent a rippling effect through the racing world (including F1).
Rossi has built not only a winning race record but also the utmost degree of admiration and respect from his fans and competitors alike. Riders and team managers from across pit-lane had many kind words and well wishes for the Italian racing star.
Many of UltimateMotorCycling.com visitors have also written-in asking for us to forward messages to Valentino Rossi through the Fiat Yamaha team. We have decided to post this story to give you all a chance to send your well wishes to Valentino.
Simply add your well wishes to the comments section below. You do NOT need to register or sign in, simple enter your message. We will collect all the messages and send them over on a weekly basis.
For those of you who have been injured, you know what it feels like laying around in a hospital. Here is your chance to give something back to ‘The Doctor’ who has given us so many amazing memories.
Getting to know VR46 a little better…
Born in Urbino, Italy on February 16th, 1979, Rossi was driving motorbikes and Ape cars from an early age on the influence of his father Graziano Rossi, a former 500cc Grand Prix winner.
Following an early start in go-karts, Rossi progressed to mini-motos and quickly showed a talent for two-wheels, becoming regional champion in 1992.
Rossi claimed the Italian Sport Production Championship in 1994 and the Italian 125cc Championship in 1995.
Rossi’s World Championship debut came at the Malaysian Grand Prix in 1996 and he finished his first international season in 9th place with one race win.
In 1997 he became the youngest ever rider to win the 125cc World Championship, winning eleven races along the way on the Aprilia.
In 1998, he moved into the 250cc class, taking second place in his first year before becoming World Champion in 1999, once again with Aprilia.
In 2000 he proved his worth once again by finishing second, before becoming the last ever 500cc World Champion in 2001.
Rossi subsequently took the MotoGP World title in 2002 and 2003, before moving to Yamaha and winning it again in 2004 and 2005.
Rossi made history by moving to Yamaha in 2004 and winning the season-opening Grand Prix in South Africa, becoming the first rider in the history of the sport to win back-to-back premier class races for different manufacturers.
He went on to win nine out of 16 races, finally clinching the World Championship title, Yamaha`s first for 12 years. A final win at the Valencia Grand Prix also ensured that the Yamaha Factory Team won the team title.
In 2005 he won eleven races in total, taking five pole positions and only finishing off the podium once. In doing so he became one of only five riders in the history of the sport to win the premier-class title on five occasions. He also helped Yamaha to win the Manufacturers’ and Team titles, ensuring Yamaha celebrated its 50th Anniversary with one of its best ever years in Grand Prix.
2006 saw him finish World Champion runner-up for only the second time in his premier-class career, having lost the title to Honda’s Nicky Hayden by just five points following a final-race showdown in Valencia. Despite this, Rossi still took five race wins and five pole positions in 2006, more than any other rider, and stood on the podium ten times.
In 2007 Rossi took four race wins and several podiums. This would be a great season for most but maybe the worst in Rossi’s career.
Valentino Rossi returned to winning form in 2008 and recaptured the MotoGP title. The Italian won nine races – equal to his first season with Yamaha in 2004 – and stood on the podium at 16 out of 18 rounds.
2009 saw Valentino Rossi cross more milestones in his incredible career and take a ninth world championship title, his fourth with Yamaha. He showed that after fourteen years of racing in the World Championship he is still the best rider of his generation and worthy of his crown.
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