Perhaps the most talented and gifted rider of all time, the current MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi celebrates his 30th birthday on Monday.
As he prepares to undertake his 14th season of World Championship competition the legendary Italian rider Valentino Rossi turns 30 on Monday and he is sure to be celebrating in style.
The reigning king of MotoGP, who last year won his sixth premier class title with an incredible haul of nine wins, 16 podiums and 373 points, will go in search of further glory in 2009, but as he reaches 30 years of age will surely allow himself a moment of reflection on what has been a truly remarkable career to date.
The Doctor, as he is affectionately known to his millions of fans across the globe, has been the World Champion in all three Grand Prix categories, taking 125cc, 250cc and 500cc/MotoGP titles in his second season in each class. He is just the second rider in history to have won all three titles, alongside Englishman Phil Read.
Rossi is the only man to have won the premier class MotoGP World Championship with 500cc, 990cc and 800cc machinery, returning to the top in 2008 after two seasons away from the pinnacle.
In MotoGP’s first ever visit to Indianapolis last year, the Fiat Yamaha rider took the record for all-time premier class race victories from one of his idols Giacomo Agostini, incidentally the only other rider to have regained the title after two years away, with a 69th triumph. Rossi raised that tally to 71 with further wins at Motegi and Sepang at the end of last season.
The son of Graziano Rossi, a celebrated rider of the 1970s, the younger Rossi entered Grand Prix racing with Aprilia in 1996, even winning a 125cc race in his first season. He went on to win the 125 world title in 1997, and after a move up to 250s with the Italian brand, he collected the quarter-litre title in 1999. He then made a move up to the premier 500cc class in 2000 with Honda, challenging for the title in the first season, picking up two victories and second place overall in the championship.
After winning the last 500cc World Championship in 2001, the following year he dominated once again in the first ever MotoGP four-stroke series onboard the Honda RC211V. He was just as untouchable the following season, before accepting the biggest challenge of his career by leaving the Honda camp and taking a Yamaha ride for 2004.
An historic year for Rossi began in the first race at Welkom, when he became the first rider ever to take consecutive victories for different factories, with a further eight wins sealing Yamaha’s first title in over a decade.
In 2005 he added to his previous triumphs, again achieving nine wins on the road to the title, his second with the Yamaha team. Linked with a move to four wheels, Rossi announced that he would stay with Yamaha for another year at Mugello in 2006, and was further spurred on by World Championship wins for rivals Nicky Hayden and Casey Stoner – ultimately regaining the title last September in Japan.
Highlighting his dominance during his career, Rossi has ended eight of his thirteen Grand Prix seasons as a World Champion, whilst in the premier class alone he has a win percentage of 47.3% with his 71 victories in 150 races, putting him well ahead of Mick Doohan (39.4%) and Kenny Roberts Sr (37.9%).
Signed up for the next two seasons with Fiat Yamaha, Rossi now has his sights set on Agostini’s record of eight premier class titles and the accolade of the greatest rider of all time. Like the iconic Agostini he is assured of officially becoming a MotoGP Legend when he eventually retires.
Rossi’s most recent outing on MotoGP machinery saw him commence his title defence preparations with a successful test in Malaysia, his trip to South East Asia also giving him the opportunity to make a public appearance for Yamaha Indonesia in Jakarta, where he was received by thousands of ecstatic fans – once again underlining his enduring popularity as a truly global sporting hero.
The MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi has received Happy 30th Birthday messages from a number of his closest friends, his family and several World Championship rivals.
Valentino Rossi has had an immensely successful career to date, winning eight World Championships, 97 races in all classes and becoming the most successful premier-class rider of all time. As he enters his 14th season in the MotoGP, his sixth with Yamaha, he is still a dominating force in the sport, having recaptured the title in typically exciting style last season.
Below is a collection of quotes from colleagues, fellow riders, family members and a few of his more famous fans. Courtesy of Yamaha Factory Racing, some are recollections of favourite moments with Valentino, whilst some are simply messages for him on the day he turns 30.
DAVIDE BRIVIO (FIAT YAMAHA TEAM MANAGER)
“I don't really have a favourite memory of Valentino, or at least it's difficult to choose the ‘absolute best!’ The first one that comes to mind however is just after the Welkom race in 2004, his famous first MotoGP race with Yamaha. Before Valentino finally joined Yamaha, during one of the meetings the previous September, he said that he wanted to win his first race with Yamaha! This immediately created a lot of pressure for me and for Yamaha, but anyway I promised him that we would all try all our best. Honestly at that time I felt that it was going to be a very difficult thing to achieve! During the final few pre-season tests the chances of doing it began to look better and better, but in a race itself anything can happen. Incredibly, he won that race in Welkom and just after it, after the technical meeting had finished, we were alone in his changing room. Somebody had left a bottle of wine in the fridge and we opened it and raised a toast to that day way back in September, when he had first said that he wanted to win this race. “We did it!” I said to him. It was a very emotional moment for me because it was the moment we achieved our very first target together. Happy Birthday!”
CESARE CREMONINI (SINGER AND FRIEND)
“Vale is a fighter, but armed with a smile. I've never seen him lose his humanity, even in the most difficult moments. One time I found him making gags and jokes as if he was at home with friends, when in fact he had just a couple of minutes to go before a decisive race. While he was putting on his leathers, ready to go out and challenge the world, he transmitted a joy for life, listening to a song on his ipod. “Ciao Ragazzi! See you later!” He said. Then came a sweeping victory at the limits of possibility and a long night of partying together! Happy Birthday, Vale!”
TOM CRUISE (ACTOR AND ROSSI FAN)
“Valentino, you are a true champion. You keep raising the bar, relentlessly pursuing the next race, the next challenge, the next championship. I also know that the victories don't necessarily become easier. You have to dig deeper, work even harder, become more focused to overcome the distractions. That's what you do. And I, like countless others, know that when you're on that track anything is possible. It was my great pleasure to be there at Laguna Seca and see you take that victory. I can honestly say I've never seen anything like it! You certainly don't disappoint! Thank you for all the great races you have given us, and for all the great races yet to come. Happy Birthday.”
DANIEL DAY-LEWIS (ACTOR AND ROSSI FAN)
“Every race, every win, every championship! Vale the kid in the portaloo is an old favourite, always irresistible in victory and gracious in defeat (not that he had to prove it very often!) But the all-time favourite memory for me would be him at Laguna Seca going inside Stoner through the dirt. Death or glory; the whole race an answer to those daft enough still to have a question. And to have shaken the hand of that man - that I won't forget either.”
ALDO DRUDI (DESIGNER AND FRIEND)
“Cattolica, August 1996, 2pm, very hot. I'm travelling by motorbike on a deserted road towards the sea, when a small and colourful outline appears from an intersection ahead, going very fast. A young boy on a scooter ‘closes' the corner, accentuates the bend, runs around the pavement, straightens up and pulls a wheelie... he holds the wheelie on the aqua-green Zip for more than 200 metres, still on the gas. I accelerate and catch him up. The boy lets go of the left handlebar and lifts the left hand in a sign of victory. I recognise him and follow him. Finally he lowers the wheel and with his feet on the footrests he throws embraces and salutes all around the road to his imaginary fans. He notices me, right beside him, and smiles. Happy Birthday Vale!”
COLIN EDWARDS (TEAM-MATE 2005/06/07 AND NOW TECH 3 YAMAHA RIDER)
“I have a few fond memories of Vale starting from 2000. Our 2002 victory at the Suzuka 8-Hour was something special, but I'd have to say my one memory that stands out is Laguna 2005. Basically, we were both healthy and fighting for every inch. I did have a slight advantage knowing the track since 1992. As I can recall, it was the first time we were together on track racing close; as most would confirm, he was usually ten seconds in front of me leading by this point in the race! Then he mounted a charge on the last two laps that came up just short...I was happy we didn't have one more lap! Haha!!!! It's not really a memory that I beat him, it's more of a memory of racing side by side with what I consider ‘The Goat’, which translates as The Greatest Of All Time. Happy Birthday, you old man!”
CARMELO EZPELETA (CEO, DORNA SPORTS)
“My favourite ‘Valentino moment’ is remembering the unique human quality that he showed after his battle with Nicky Hayden for the 2006 MotoGP Championship. It is very easy to behave like a champion when you win, but Rossi's attitude after losing was admirable and impressive.”
LIN JARVIS (MANAGING DIRECTOR, YAMAHA MOTOR RACING)
“It's difficult to think of a single moment but I guess one of the most memorable moments was during the 2003 season when Valentino had his first meeting with the Yamaha YZR-M1. We had started our secret discussions earlier that year for a possible future move to Yamaha. Vale said he wanted to have a real look at the Yamaha M1 bike so we agreed to organize a secret rendezvous in the paddock at the Donington GP. To keep it secret we arranged to meet on Saturday night in the Yamaha Factory Team pit box. After midnight Vale arrived in a dark parka jacket with the hood up. He looked like a burglar coming to steal our stuff! Once inside he greeted everybody there and introduced himself and then took his time to look at Carlos Checa's M1 from every angle before asking our permission if he could sit on the bike. We were so surprised by his humility and modesty and even more surprised when he paid a complement to us by stating that it was ‘not so bad’ after all. His attitude on that first night time meeting said a lot about the man. Since then I have seen a hundred more examples... Happy Birthday, Vale!”
JORGE LORENZO (FIAT YAMAHATEAM-MATE, 2008/09)
“I want to say Happy Birthday to my team-mate Valentino. It is great for me to be racing with a legend like him, but maybe now he's 30 he might slow down a little bit!”
MARCO MATERAZZI (INTER MILAN FOOTBALL PLAYER AND FRIEND)
“We met thanks to Inter, but we became friends thanks to motorbikes: our two great passions! Now the stadium and the circuit are occasions to be fans for one another and to try to bring good luck; you for me and I for you. But the moment in which we feel the truest friends is when we're having dinner together at my house, sitting together at the same table. There we are just Marco and Valentino, two who for many reasons see life in the same way. Today I am just like you, when you put your number on to race it is the double of me when I put mine on to play, because I have 23! For your 30th I give you ‘double’ greetings. And one more special thing to remember, to succeed in keeping our ‘secret’ promise, the one which we can only tell when we've achieved it! Happy Birthday Vale!”
GUIDO MEDA (ITALIAN TV COMMENTATOR AND FRIEND)
“The end of testing, the slow-down lap. Valentino sees you from the track and goes to wave at you. It's a quick movement and it seems trivial, but it's a sign, a sign of how he focuses his attention; on the bike while he needs to, on the man when he can. He separates the moments, detaches them, changes and reasons. This is why everyone always wants him as their poster boy. The Valentino I know above all defeats what is normal while the legend grows. Now he turns 30, what can I say? As before, he still has his feet on the ground. He is ruthless and very much a perfectionist. He is easy-going and always curious with his own taste for an interesting life, but he is normal. After eight titles and 97 victories, I would like to be sure that I tell the story in the right way and, although the legend continues to grow, I can always find simple words.”
STEFANIA PALMA (MOTHER)
“I have thought about what to tell you through the media for your 30th birthday... I could have dealt with sun, stars, mountains, love and happiness... but I feel it is more right to say, simply... HAPPY BIRTHDAY!”
CARLO PERNAT (JOURNALIST AND FRIEND)
“How could I not love you, Valentino? The champions know exactly what they have to do, instinctively. I remember in 1997, when we were making your first TV advert. You had to endure a day with a fussy and long-winded director, who couldn't finish and had to adjourn until the next day. You left and, with your friend Uccio you called to warn that you were already home at your house, and where you were staying also the next day! Straugurissimi, Legend!”
WAYNE RAINEY (WORLD CHAMPION WITH YAMAHA 1990/91/92)
“Happy 30th Birthday Valentino! I love to watch when the odds are against you, the battle is on. Your passion to win is visible and I respect that very much. 30 years old...life is just beginning for you!”
KENNY ROBERTS SENIOR (WORLD CHAMPION WITH YAMAHA 1978/79/80)
“Valentino, when I first saw you ride at the ranch in Barcelona... I thought Kevin Schwantz was tall and skinny! You were very impressive then as you are now! Good luck and Happy Birthday!”
GRAZIANO ROSSI (FATHER)
“Simply... I would like to wish him to get to 40 without growing up anymore and then after 40... let’s see!”
RINO SALUCCI (FRIEND AND PRESIDENT OF OFFICIAL FAN CLUB)
“Am I asking too much if I ask for 30 more years of excitement? Well, I can live with half!”
UCCIO SALUCCI (BEST FRIEND)
“I hope that for the next 30 years Vale will be as fast as he has been in the previous 30 and that he gives us more passes and excitement like we had at Laguna Seca 2008. 30 more Corkscrews, Vale!”
MARCO SIMONCELLI (250CC WORLD CHAMPION AND FRIEND)
“Happy Birthday, Bomber! Although you are now 30, try to give us as much excitement as you have given to us until you were 29!”
GIGI SOLDANO (OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHER AND FRIEND)
“I know that every time I work with him something different will happen once again. One more time his image is in front of my lens and once again I have a different feeling and taste to be working with him. His little wrinkles, his determined gaze with his piercing eyes, which look right through you if you are not quick to change the shot. We play a game and by now he knows what expression I want before I have even asked, just like a team-mate in a match. The expressions stay in my mind as memories. This is what having Vale in front of the camera means, every time. I am always happy that I have the good fortune to work with him. Today he is posing for me with a chocolate cake to celebrate his 30th birthday. I shoot it as simply as possible; It's not necessary to have anything else to make it a unique shot. A white background is enough, and once again we relax into the ‘groove'. A song comes into my head: "When you have a sunny day in December, you can say that summer is already here! Congratulations, Vale!”
JAMES TOSELAND (TECH 3 YAMAHA RIDER)
“30 is a big milestone for a racer because, even though you're not really old as a person, you're starting to be one of the older ones in professional racing and you start to feel that you can't go on forever! I don't think it's a problem for Valentino however, he seems to still feel 25 so as long as that continues he'll be just fine! Happy Birthday and have a great party!”
MotoGP.com
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