Post by floog on Apr 8, 2006 18:38:41 GMT
For me, personally, the last five years or so of MOTO GP racing has been a 'Must-see' affair, due mostly to one man - Valentino Rossi.
Watching this talented rider rise, progress through the classes and totally dominate the field has been a pleasure. I have enjoyed the riding, as well as the early battles both on and off the track with Max Biaggi; the celebratory extravagance and the modern day mind crushing of Gibernau and all others who threaten his titles.
Few would fail to acknowledge Rossi as the greatest motorcycle racer of the current generation, possibly of all time, with an impressive career and ever increasing winning statistics that currently pit him alongside Mick Doohan in terms of race wins (54), and only second to Agostini.
Rossi was born on February 16th 1979 in Urbini, Italy, the year his father, GP racer Granziano Rossi achieved two 250cc class wins :son:
Rossi began racing in Karts, progressing to minimotos before turning his attentions to the Italian Sport Production championship, riding for Cagiva. In 1994, his second season he clinched the title. He then signed to Aprilia for the European 125cc championship.
In 1996, Rossi finished 11th for the Aprilia Team Scuderia AGV team, with a first victory at the Czech Republic. A year later and he was the youngest ever champion
In 1998, he moved up to the 250cc class for the Nastro Azzurro team, eventually coming 2nd overall with 5 wins. Again, a year later, in 1998 with his 'study year' completed, Rossi was crowned the youngest ever 250cc champion with 9 class wins and 309 points
The following years are well documented with Rossi moving to the then 500cc GP bikes in 2000, where he secured 2nd place. From 2001 onwards, Rossi has been the dominant force of the newly created 990cc MOTO GP class:
2001 WORLD CHAMPION HONDA NSR 500
2002 WORLD CHAMPION HONDA RC211V
2003 WORLD CHAMPION HONDA RC211V
2004 WORLD CHAMPION YAMAHA YZR-M1
2005 WORLD CHAMPION YAMAHA YZR-M1
In 2006, Rossi has for the third time been nominated for the Laureus World Sportsman Of The Year title. In 2005 he came second to Michael Schumacher and a year before he came second to Roger Federer. Ironically, this year he is up against Alonso from Formula 1 (Alonso has been less than complimentary of Rossi's efforts in testing the Ferarri)
In 2005, Rossi was ranked 63rd in the Forbes Most Powerful Celebrity 100 List and in that same year, for the fourth consecutive year, he scooped the Italian motorcycle magazine 'Motosprint's' prestigious 'Golden Helmet' award.
He is well known for his after race celebrations, performed with the help of a loyal band of fans who travel the world in awe of their hero. Who can forget the dyed hair, robin Hood costume, the ball and chain after freeing himself from Honda, and the sweeping of the track as a two fingers gesture to his previous punishment after Gibernau and his team lodged a complain (Gibernau firmly denies this). Rossi actually lives in London due to the adoration and constant mobbing by fans in Italy.
Rossi joins Eddie Lawson as only the second man to achieve back to back championships for different manufacturers.
Rossi also eclipses the record of championship wins in a season, formerly held by Eddie Lawson and Wayne Rainey (7 wins).
In terms of race wins, Rossi seems certain to Eclipse Doohan's second place in the record books with 54 wins, but whether he will equal the 68 held by Agostini now seems doubtful with the possibility of him leaving at the end of the season to join the F1 circus :redcard:
In my opinion, Rossi is the greatest champion. He is a genius on two wheels, a master tactician and an expert in mind games over his opponents. He proved in swapping from the greatest machine on the race track to a far less worthy one, and still winning the championship against all odds-that the rider is the most important part of the racing package, not, as Honda thought - the bike
Again my opinion, but I believe Rossi will in fact stay in MOTO GP and not make the difficult and, possibly fruitless transition to formula one. I think he is still hungry for more titles, and hope that his future will remain on two wheels.
I will certainly continue to enjoy watching Rossi during the course of this exciting season, and hope it will not be his last
Watching this talented rider rise, progress through the classes and totally dominate the field has been a pleasure. I have enjoyed the riding, as well as the early battles both on and off the track with Max Biaggi; the celebratory extravagance and the modern day mind crushing of Gibernau and all others who threaten his titles.
Few would fail to acknowledge Rossi as the greatest motorcycle racer of the current generation, possibly of all time, with an impressive career and ever increasing winning statistics that currently pit him alongside Mick Doohan in terms of race wins (54), and only second to Agostini.
Rossi was born on February 16th 1979 in Urbini, Italy, the year his father, GP racer Granziano Rossi achieved two 250cc class wins :son:
Rossi began racing in Karts, progressing to minimotos before turning his attentions to the Italian Sport Production championship, riding for Cagiva. In 1994, his second season he clinched the title. He then signed to Aprilia for the European 125cc championship.
In 1996, Rossi finished 11th for the Aprilia Team Scuderia AGV team, with a first victory at the Czech Republic. A year later and he was the youngest ever champion
In 1998, he moved up to the 250cc class for the Nastro Azzurro team, eventually coming 2nd overall with 5 wins. Again, a year later, in 1998 with his 'study year' completed, Rossi was crowned the youngest ever 250cc champion with 9 class wins and 309 points
The following years are well documented with Rossi moving to the then 500cc GP bikes in 2000, where he secured 2nd place. From 2001 onwards, Rossi has been the dominant force of the newly created 990cc MOTO GP class:
2001 WORLD CHAMPION HONDA NSR 500
2002 WORLD CHAMPION HONDA RC211V
2003 WORLD CHAMPION HONDA RC211V
2004 WORLD CHAMPION YAMAHA YZR-M1
2005 WORLD CHAMPION YAMAHA YZR-M1
In 2006, Rossi has for the third time been nominated for the Laureus World Sportsman Of The Year title. In 2005 he came second to Michael Schumacher and a year before he came second to Roger Federer. Ironically, this year he is up against Alonso from Formula 1 (Alonso has been less than complimentary of Rossi's efforts in testing the Ferarri)
In 2005, Rossi was ranked 63rd in the Forbes Most Powerful Celebrity 100 List and in that same year, for the fourth consecutive year, he scooped the Italian motorcycle magazine 'Motosprint's' prestigious 'Golden Helmet' award.
He is well known for his after race celebrations, performed with the help of a loyal band of fans who travel the world in awe of their hero. Who can forget the dyed hair, robin Hood costume, the ball and chain after freeing himself from Honda, and the sweeping of the track as a two fingers gesture to his previous punishment after Gibernau and his team lodged a complain (Gibernau firmly denies this). Rossi actually lives in London due to the adoration and constant mobbing by fans in Italy.
Rossi joins Eddie Lawson as only the second man to achieve back to back championships for different manufacturers.
Rossi also eclipses the record of championship wins in a season, formerly held by Eddie Lawson and Wayne Rainey (7 wins).
In terms of race wins, Rossi seems certain to Eclipse Doohan's second place in the record books with 54 wins, but whether he will equal the 68 held by Agostini now seems doubtful with the possibility of him leaving at the end of the season to join the F1 circus :redcard:
In my opinion, Rossi is the greatest champion. He is a genius on two wheels, a master tactician and an expert in mind games over his opponents. He proved in swapping from the greatest machine on the race track to a far less worthy one, and still winning the championship against all odds-that the rider is the most important part of the racing package, not, as Honda thought - the bike
Again my opinion, but I believe Rossi will in fact stay in MOTO GP and not make the difficult and, possibly fruitless transition to formula one. I think he is still hungry for more titles, and hope that his future will remain on two wheels.
I will certainly continue to enjoy watching Rossi during the course of this exciting season, and hope it will not be his last