Valentino Rossi is an Italian motorcycle racer. Recognized as one of the most successful motorcycle racers of all time, the athlete is a nine-time world champion in highway-ring motorcycling in various classes, including the premier class), six-time vice champion and twice was third in the season.
Alessandro Barikko in an afterword to the book "Such a Story" called Valentino Rossi one of his teachers. A professional motorcyclist in the road racing circuit is recognized as a real ace. At world championships he won 9 times. Almost all of his sports career, Rossi performed under the number "46".
Road to fame
The biography of the future famous champion began in 1979. The child was born in the city of Urbino on February 16 in the family of a professional motorcycle racer Graziano of Russia. Father won three times in 1979 and constantly took part in world championships. He left the sport in 1990. The son inherited his love for motorcycles.
Mom was very worried about the safety of the boy. Therefore, it was decided to go karting, a less dangerous sport. Ten-year-old Valentino in 1990 took part in his first competitions. He became a winner.
At the same time, Rossi Jr. mastered the motorcycle. A year later, the boy won several regional tournaments. Minibike quickly bored a guy who dreamed of more powerful cars. In 1993, Rossi got his first Cagiva Mito motorcycle. On it, a young racer took part in a new type of competition. The debutant finished ninth. In 1996, Valentino joined the athletes at the MotoGP World Championship in the 125cc class.
Not without accidents, but the result was the award of the Czech Grand Prix. The 1998 season turned out to be the most difficult. In the 250cc category, Rossi became the second. However, a year later, Valentino climbed to the highest step of the podium. In 2000, the athlete participated in the 500cc motorcycle race as part of the Honda team. After nine races, victory was his.
The season perfectly prepared the guy for the subsequent triumph. In 2001, Rossi won the world championship in the class 500cc in 11 races. In 2003, a contract was signed with Yamaha. Contrary to skeptical predictions about the impossibility of repeating the triumph, Valentino again became the champion in 2004, winning in 9 races.
Accomplishments
During his career, Valentino has repeatedly earned nicknames. At first it was called Rossifumi. The reason for such an extravagant name was the worship of the Japanese racer Norifumi Abe. He was the idol of a young man. During the competition in the 250cc class, a new nickname Valentinik appeared. So fans and colleagues alluded to Rossi's involvement in the superhero of the comic strip national Paperinik.
After the MotoGP and 500cc class races, the Doctor option appeared. By this name, the athlete owes his composure and composure while driving. This style was radically different from the unpredictable and very dangerous he demonstrated at the very beginning of his career.
The racer himself explained the flattering nickname differently, by obtaining a degree giving the right to use the prefix of the same name. His father explained to reporters that in Italy, the work of doctors and themselves are treated with great respect. Because such a nickname is flattering and honorable. Yes, and the name Rossi in the medical community is very common.
An experienced racer rarely gets into an accident. By the number of continuous podiums, he confidently holds his record. From September 8, 2002 to April 18, 2004 for 23 races in a row he climbed the podium. Completely in this list of victories entered the 2003 season.
Traditions and nicknames
The entire career of Russia took place under the number "46". The athlete explained his love for these numbers by the fact that his idol, Norifumi Abe, had exactly the same number. The boy first saw his performance during the wet race. Then the speaker on wildcart overtook many of their rivals. With the same number, Father Valentino won his first victory in the championship. According to the rules, the winners in the new season appear under the numbers 1, 2, 3. But Russia did not want to part with its lucky number.
The young man is distinguished by interesting traditions. On his helmet is the name of the group of his friends "The Tribe of the Chihuahua". In the design of the costume there is always a bright yellow color. To his ex-partner, Colin Edward invariably calls by the name "GOAT", that is, "the greatest of all time", "Greatest Of All Time". True, in the English version, the abbreviation is not so flattering translation for Russia.
In the equipment of the champion there are always symbols of the Sun and the Moon. Despite the change of design, the motives of celestial bodies did not leave a single helmet. Before getting behind the wheel, Rossi, a couple of meters from the Iron Horse, stops and bows to the car. Walking close to the motorcycle, the rider tilts his head and crouches.
He arranges the suit immediately before the start of the competition, always standing on the bike.
