Yamaha’s Valentino Rossi Photo Gallery / Images / Pics / Wallpaper
The only rider to currently compete in MotoGP since the class replaced the 500cc era in 2002, Valentino Rossi is without a doubt a headline maker.
This year was one of questioning due to the nine-time World Champion making the switch back to Yamaha Factory Racing after two sour years with factory Ducati. During those years, VR46 only achieved three podiums, his final one abroad the Desmosedici at San Marino in 2012.
Rossi clearly struggled with the Ducati prototype that others have also struggled with, but many thought he had lost his finesse at 34 years old.
But the Italian proved the negativism wrong at the opening round of the 2013 MotoGP Championship during his debut race back with factory Yamaha, the same manufacturer he took four premier-class titles.
Following a tough seventh-place start under the floodlights at Losail International Circuit in Doha, Qatar, Rossi was quickly into fourth, but made some mistakes, dropping back to seventh. But as the 22-lap progressed, Rossi piloted the YZR-M1 to quicker and quicker lap times, eventually battling for second with Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez, one of three rookies in 2013 MotoGP (Monster Tech 3 Yamaha’s Bradley Smith, Pramac Ducati’s Andrea Iannone).
Rossi would finish second behind teammate, two-time MotoGP Champion Jorge Lorenzo, and ahead of Marquez.
Valentino Rossi (Yamaha Factory Racing YZR-M1 MotoGP) says: “I’m more than happy, very happy indeed because it was my dream to come back with Yamaha. To arrive on the podium at the first race was my target from November and I put all my effort to arrive at the maximum here.
“It was a difficult weekend, especially yesterday in qualifying, but I knew I had great pace so I tried to recover in the beginning but I made a mistake and I lost time. I had to do a great second part of the race and step by step I came close to my podium.
“In the end there was a great battle, especially with Marc for the second place. I’m so happy for me, for my team, for my friends and all my fans who stay with me through two difficult years and also for Yamaha, to start the season with first and second place is not so bad!”
Attached above is a photo gallery of Valentino Rossi photos from 2013 Qatar MotoGP, which also make for great wallpaper. To download the Rossi pics for wallpaper, simply click the desired thumbnail to expand, right click and set as desktop background.
For a recap of 2013 Qatar MotoGP, including full results and point standings, click here.
Me and my husband loves Valentino Rossi.G O A T.. Hurray!!!!