The leading racer in MotoGP history is 45 years old

A legendary figure in motorcycle racing, with seven MotoGP titles under his belt, Valentino Rossi is considered the greatest racer in the history of the sport and the fastest “doctor” in history.

Italian motorcycle legend “The Doctor,” as Valentino Rossi was called throughout his career, was born on this day, February 16, 1979, in Urbino, Italy.

He called himself “The Doctor” and didn't know why. But this can be linked to the surgical precision with which he drove his car.

He is the son of Graziano Rossi, a veteran motorcycle racer who has won three world titles.

From carts to… machines

However, Valentino's first love was not motorcycles; Cars. To his mother's concern, Graziano's father bought his son a go-cart. At the age of 10, he won several regional kart races, but the motorcycle “germ” could not avoid it.

In 1993, he rode a motorcycle at a competitive level for the first time, and year after year he got better and better and showed that… he was coming to Moto GP to stay.

Image source: APE-MPE

His first motorcycle Grand Prix was in 1996, with ApriliaWith 125 cc and finished ninth. The following year he won his first world championship and then switched seasons. He moved up to the 250cc class, where he finished second in 1998 and won the world title in 1999, again on an Aprilia motorcycle.

In 2001, he won the 500cc World Championship with Honda, the MotoGP World Championship in 2002 and 2003, and then with Yamaha in 2004, 2005, 2008 and 2009. In 2006, he finished second behind Nicky Hayden and in 2007 he finished third behind Casey Stoner and Danny. Pedrosa.

In 2010, he was seriously injured at the Italian Grand Prix, suffering a crushing fracture of his right leg and undergoing labrum surgery.

He's been out for a while. In the end, he finished third behind Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa.

In 2011, he signed a two-year contract with Ducati. In the same year, he ranked seventh, and in 2012, he ranked sixth with his best performance, as he took second place in the race in France and San Marino.

In 2013 he returned on a two-year contract to YamahaWhich he fought for until November 2021, when he announced itRetired from MotoGP at the age of 42.

In his second stint with Yamaha, he did not win a title, but finished second three times (2014, 2015, 2016) and third once (2018).

In general, he participated in MotoGP racing during his years 372 grand prizes, 89 victories, and 199 podium finishes. He ran all his races with the number 46 in honor of his father who ran with the same number 46!

The tragic end of Marco Simoncelli that “distinguished” him.

In this unique cycle he wrote on the tracks, there was one moment that set him apart and it was none other than October 23, 2011. Rossi had developed a brotherly relationship with Marco Simoncelli.

Simoncelli made him a role model, but when he worked on instruments he was a complete rival to his idol.

At the Malaysian Grand Prix, Super Sik lost control and fell onto the asphalt, causing the two machines behind him to collide with him. One of them was Russian!

A few hours later, the organizing body announced Simoncelli's death.

The loss devastated Rossi, who never forgot him and dedicated his victories to him at every opportunity.

No. 46 Inter and tax evasion

Throughout his career, his instruments were “dressed” with the same number, 46which his father also owned at the time he was competing.

Rossi had a pathological love for Inter, attending many matches of the Nerazzurri, who in 2009 congratulated him via their website on his ninth world title.

In 2007, his name was heavily involved in Financial scandal. The Italian state accused him of tax evasion worth tens of millions of euros and he was forced to donate 35 million To reach an out-of-court settlement.

The last bow

in November 14, 2021 The pioneering racer in MotoGP history raced for the final time in his storied career.

Nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi ended his legendary career by competing for the final time at the Valencia circuit.

He had stated during the official press conference about his decision to retire after 26 years:

“It is sad and difficult for me to say that I will not be racing motorcycles next year. I have been doing it for almost 30 years and next year my life will change. But it has been beautiful and I am happy. It has been a long and beautiful journey with unforgettable moments with… All the teams and people I've worked with.

My career has been very long and I have won many matches, but some of the victories and moments I saw in the video are unforgettable. Which made me laugh for a week.

I repeat, it was not an easy decision, but we have to understand that in sports, the result makes the difference, and I think this is the right way. As for my future? I love race cars, maybe less so than motorcycles.

So I think I will participate in motor racing, but that has not been decided yet. I haven't made up my mind. I feel like a motorcyclist and car driver and that's what I will be for the rest of my life. “I think I'll run again.”