‘It was definitely one of the best races of my life’
reach 400 GPs and still be racing at 40 against the young riders. It’s not an easy thing to do,” Agostini says. “He had come very close to me and when he changed to Ducati they did not have a very good bike and he lost a lot of time – maybe he wanted to make me happy! “Valentino is like Muhammad Ali, he wins so much he’s this big emotional connection with many fans.”
Rivalries
Rossi’s growth from Italian to global star was triggered by his fierce fights with countryman Max Biaggi. It peaked with the infamous postrace scuffle on the way to podium for the 2001 Catalunya GP.
“I would start with Max Biaggi,” Rossi admits. “The rivalry between us is what made us very famous.” But Rossi has never played favourites and instead has a long list of riders he’s had ruthless battles with. “I counted six of them, the six top opponents in my career,” he continues. “Biaggi, (Sete) Gibernau, (Loris) Capirossi, (Casey ) Stoner, (Jorge) Lorenzo and (Marc) Marquez. “Imagine (Niki) Lauda and (James) Hunt in Formula 1, they became myths having only one opponent!” It’s a ferocious race with Stoner, on a Ducati, at Laguna Seca in 2008, that’s etched in Rossi’s memory. “I was coming from a difficult moment and after winning five world titles things were going so and so for me and Casey Stoner was the main protagonist in the championship. “In 2008 I switched to Bridgestone tyres. It was one of the greatest challenges of my life, after switching to Yamaha, and Laguna Seca was the race where all my efforts paid off. “It was also the key moment of that championship. Casey was really very fast – the fastest – and beating him there was incredible. Definitely one of the best races of my life.”
Island love affair
Rossi has simple explanation for his love affair with Phillip Island, the iconic Australian track that was first laid out in the 1950s.
“The main thing is that it is not a computer circuit,” Rossi says. “I have a lot of great memories of it, it’s one of my favourite tracks.” Rossi rates three Island races as among his most memorable moments - 2001, 2003 and 2004 - although he can’t split his victories in ’01 and ’04 for overall favourite. “It’s difficult to decide between these two years, for me they are equal,” Rossi says.
“In 2001 it was the 500cc championship and my first title with Honda and big fight in the race against Biaggi. It was one of the very best races of my career.
“And then in 2004 it was my first year with Yamaha and I won the race on the last lap against Gibernau and also the championship, my very first with Yamaha.
“In both cases I had a big battle in the race with my main rival for those seasons – Biaggi (in 2001) and Gibernau (2004).
“And then in 2003 I had to catch back a 10 second penalty (incurred for a yellow flag overtake) but won the race anyway.”
So, 400 grands prix and counting for MotoGP genius Valentino Rossi who has now raced in 42.5% of the 940 GPs staged since the first at the 1949 Isle of Man TT.
But it all could have been so different if he had followed an early childhood dream.
“I dreamt of being a trucker when I was a little boy but I don’t know why. I like the idea of driving trucks but I didn’t really understand that it was a very difficult job.”