MICHAEL SCOTT
‘400races, Rossistill believes’
Do you remember where you were on March 31, 1996? Maybe crawling round on all fours, a grown-up wiping up behind you. Or maybe even not yet born at all?
Rossi remembers. Riding in his first GP at the steamy old Kuala Lumpur circuit of Shah Alam he came sixth. Later that year he would take the first of what’s currently a total of 115 grand prix wins.
You couldn’t fail to notice him. A teenager who modelled himself on Prince Valiant, he was everywhere, like, as the saying goes, a rash. He has been ever since. Charming and ruthlessly cynical in equal measure – and heroically successful. Sunday in Australia marked his 400th GP, one among so many records. How to put it into proportion? Well, how about waking up and going to work 400 times? With holidays, the average British working year is 232 days thus Rossi’s 400-race workload would take one year and 33 weeks.
But a race weekend lasts three full days so Rossi’s actually been ‘waking up and going to work’ for well over four years – as a GP racer. Amazing.
He’s also founded a race school for young Italian riders and runs successful teams in Moto2 and 3. Even more amazing.
Rossi celebrated the milestone well on Sunday, sweeping around the outside into the daunting first corner and then leading for three laps. But it was not the best way. He slumped to eighth, which is becoming all-too familiar. And at a favourite track where he won five times straight between 2001 and 2005 and again in 2014.
It’s now over two years since Rossi’s last win. His premier-class winning average has dropped to 26.25%. Marquez’s is 44%. In Rossi’s own last championship year, 2009, it was a whopping 46.1%. There’s still a life-affirming joy in that Rossi’s not only stayed dedicated for 72 races more than any other rider in history but also continues to believe in himself so strongly that he blames fading results on bike set-up rather than the rising tide of youth. That’s why he’s changed his crew chief again for next year.
But there’s another feeling, too, reflecting respect for his dignity and fear he might get hurt. His original crew chief, Jerry Burgess, blunt as ever, said it last week. “Maybe he’s been around a bit too long.”
‘It’s now over two years since Rossi’s last win’