Circuits of Motogp

List of Circuits of MotoGP :
1. Misano San Marino
2. Belanda Assen
3. British
4. Laguna Seca US
5. Portugal Estoril
6. Sepang Malaysia
7. Mugello Italia
8. Czech Republic
9. Australia

11. German
12. Jerez Spanyol
13. Jacarepagua

Circuits Mugello in Itali

Points of interest picked out by the motogp.com statisticians ahead of Sunday´s Gran Premio d´Italia Alice premier class contest.

- Valentino Rossi´s pole position lap time is the fastest ever lap of the Mugello circuit by a motorcycle. The top seven riders on the grid have gone faster than the previous pole position record set in 2006 by Sete Gibernau on a Ducati.

- Rossi will start from pole for the first time since the Grand Prix of Catalunya last year. This is the 50th occasion Rossi has started from pole in Grand Prix racing. If Rossi wins the race it will be the first time he has scored three successive victories since 2005 when he won at Donington, Sachsenring and Brno. Rossi has not won on the last six occasions he has started from pole.

- This is the first pole for Bridgestone since Casey Stoner was the fastest qualifier at the San Marino Grand Prix last year. It has been 17 years since the last non- Michelin win in the premier-class at Mugello, when Wayne Rainey won on Dunlops in 1991.

- As at all of the previous races this year, all four Yamaha riders have qualified in the top eight places on the grid.

- Dani Pedrosa finished second last year at Mugello after qualifying in eighth place on the grid.

- Loris Capirossi will be starting from the front row for the first time since the final race of 2006 in Valencia. This is also the first front row start for a Suzuki rider since Chris Vermeulen was third on the grid at Laguna Seca last year.

- Casey Stoner´s only podium finish at Mugello across all three classes was second place in the 125cc race in 2004.

- Fifth place on the grid is by far the best qualifying result at Mugello for Colin Edwards – his previous best from five previous appearances at the circuit is 12th. Edwards has never finished higher than ninth in a GP at Mugello.

- Jorge Lorenzo will be starting from his lowest grid position (seventh) since moving up to the MotoGP class at the start of the year. Lorenzo is set to become the youngest ever rider to make his 100th Grand Prix start, taking this record from Hector Barbera who will reach this milestone earlier in the day in the 250cc race.

- Shinya Nakano will be starting from his best grid position (ninth) since he was the eighth fastest qualifier at the Australian GP last year. Source

Fiat Yamaha 2008 Team Launch - Valentino Rossi & Jorge Lorenzo

Yamaha and Fiat celebrate their second year together at 2008 team launch in Turin.
Turin, Italy 1/18/2008 - Yamaha Motor Company Ltd. and Fiat Automo biles S.p.A. marked the second year of their MotoGP partnership today, at the official 2008 Fiat Yamaha Team Launch in Turin, Italy. The presentation was hosted by Italian TV star Simona Ventura and took place at the historic Lingotto building, which was Fiat's car factory from 1923 until 1982.

The building, which features a unique rooftop test track, played host to a different type of wheel power today when the new 2008 YZR-M1s, sporting an updated version of the Fiat Yamaha Team's eye-catching white and blue livery, were unveiled. Yamaha's double MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi was present at the ceremony alongside his new team-mate, 20-year-old Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo, who is making the step up to MotoGP after two years as 250cc World Champion.

Also present today were Lin Jarvis, Managing Director of Yamaha Motor Racing Srl, Masahiko Nakajima, Fiat Yamaha Team Director and YZR-M1 Project Leader, Davide Brivio and Daniele Romagnoli, Fiat Yamaha Team Managers, and Lorenzo Sistino, CEO of the Fiat brand.

"I'm very happy that we're so close to the start of racing," said Rossi, who will contest this season on Bridgestone tyres for the first time. "This is a very important year for us and our only aim is to win, although it's going to be hard work. My hand is much better, if not yet perfect, and I'm looking forward to getting back on the bike in Sepang next week. Everyone has been working very hard over the winter and I think our new bike is quite good, although of course we still have a lot of work to do. Everyone is very motivated and I know that we have the best team there is."

Lorenzo, whose M1 will be Michelin-shod this season, enjoyed his first official day as a Yamaha rider. "I'm very happy to be here, with these people, this bike and in this team. I have a long way to go in my development but I have improved each time I've ridden the bike and the last test especially was very good. I'm very excited about this season and it's a great honour to share the garage with Valentino, who is without doubt the most complete talent in our sport."

Lin Jarvis, Managing Director of Yamaha Motor Racing, commented, "We're very pleased to be continuing our strong partnership with our title sponsor Fiat. Meanwhile, the most important change to our team is the arrival of Jorge Lorenzo as Valentino Rossi's new team-mate. Our aim is to recapture the title and, as our most experienced rider, this is Valentino's clear mission. However we also expect Jorge to be fighting at the front as he gains experience. We have two multiple World Championship winning riders in our team and we believe we have optimum chance to realise our ambitions.

"As well as continuing with Fiat, we also enter into a second year with Official Sponsors AIA and ACER, and we're also delighted to announce today the arrival of a new Official Sponsor in solar-energy company KERSELF, with whom we have concluded a two-year sponsorship agreement. Another important new partner is YAMALUBE, Yamaha's own high performance lubricants brand. Plus, as everyone knows, this season we will be working with both Michelin and Bridgestone tyre brands and we would like to thank them, as well as all our official sponsors and suppliers, for their continued support."

"The Fiat Yamaha initiative has been a success for Fiat from the start," added Lorenzo Sistino, CEO of the Fiat brand. "The team is young, successful and dynamic and MotoGP brings us very close to our target market and gives us great visibility, not only in Italy but worldwide. We're looking forward to another great year with Yamaha."

The Fiat Yamaha Team's 2008 campaign gets underway in Sepang, Malaysia next week with the first of four pre-season tests. The 18-round MotoGP season commences in Qatar on 9th of March.

Very beautiful family me,Valentino,and my mom!

Riders MotoGP

Valentino and Graziano Rossi Yamaha advert available to view

The father and son duo of Graziano and Valentino Rossi have been gracing screens for a special television advert, run by Yamaha for the Asian market.

The father and son duo of Graziano and Valentino Rossi have been gracing screens for a special television advert, run by Yamaha for the Asian market.

The charismatic current MotoGP rider appears alongside his proud parent –himself a former World Championship competitor- in the campaign, in front of the Yamaha cameras for the first time.

The advert was recorded in Europe, although its screening has been limited to Japan since its premiere in October of last year. Now fans across the globe can watch the footage, including a `making of´ video, on motogp.com.

Rossi celebrates 29th birthday

Seven time World Champion and five time premier class title winner Valentino Rossi celebrates his 29th birthday on Saturday as the MotoGP Official Test gets underway in the south of Spain.

Seven time World Champion and five time premier class title winner Valentino Rossi celebrates his 29th birthday on Saturday as the MotoGP Official Test gets underway in the south of Spain.

Groups of fans gathered for the testing sessions at the Jerez de la Frontera circuit have been heard singing ‘Happy Birthday' to the hugely popular MotoGP star, who this weekend steps up his pre-season preparations with his Fiat Yamaha team and new tyre suppliers Bridgestone. Rossi is also sporting one of his typical special edition helmets to mark his big day, with a unique birthday cake design adorning his headgear. In celebration of ‘The Doctor's' 29th birthday, motogp.com wishes Italian rider ‘Buon Compleanno' and picks out 29 facts about the extraordinary life and career of the man from Urbino. 1. Rossi was born in 1979, the year his father Graziano took his first 250cc GP win (at Rijeka, Yugoslavia). 2. He started to race minimotos in 1989 and took his first regional title the following year. 3. Valentino's first proper bike was a Cagiva Mito 125cc he raced in the 93 125cc Italian Sport Production Championship. The following year, he took an official Mito to the title. 4. His first nickname, ‘Rossifumi', came about as a tribute to the much missed Japanese rider Norick Abe. 5. Rossi has an honorary Doctorate in Communications from the University of Urbino. 6. The race number 46 has been ever present in Rossi's career, as the Italian uses same number as his father Graziano ran with during his own GP career. 7. One of Rossi's favourite mascots is a turtle, which he displays with stickers on his Yamaha 800cc bike. 8. As one of the most famous Italians he has been caricatured in cartoon by the designer Milo Manara, who created his helmet artwork for the Mugello 2006 GP. 9. Valentino has become well-known for his wild race celebrations which have included dressing up as Robin Hood and taking an inflatable Claudia Schiffer doll for a ride. 10. His Grand Prix debut was in 1996. 11. The sun and the moon, which Rossi carries drawings of on his helmet, are said to reflect contrasting elements of his personality. 12. In 1999 Rossi created a superhero alter ego for himself named Valentinik. 13. Rossi was 22 when he won the (then) 500cc title in 2001. 14. His first Grand Prix win was in the 125cc race in the Cezch GP of '96. 15. Rossi has represented three manufacturers in the World Championship. With Aprilia he won 12 races in 125cc and 14 in 250cc. In the premier class he earned 33 victories with Honda, before his switch to Yamaha – with whom he has 29 GP wins to his name. 16. Indeed Rossi is the second most successful premier class rider of all time in terms of wins, with 62 in total. Only his compatriot Giacomo Agostini has won more premier class GPs. 17. In 2005, Rossi published his official biography, "What if I had never tried it?" 18. Valentino used Dunlop tyres in the lower classes and Michelin in MotoGP until the end of last year. In 2008 he runs on Bridgestone rubber. 19. When Rossi won the title with Yamaha in 2004 after his sensational move from Honda, it was his fourth consecutive premier class crown. 20. Rossi's pet dog Guido is a British bulldog which he has had since 2000. 21. The Italian has appeared on the podium 135 times in his World Championship career. 22. He has dedicated race wins to other motorsports stars such as Barry Sheene, Colin Mcrae and Mick Hailwood, amongst others. 23. One of Rossi's closest friends Uccio works as his personal assistant in the MotoGP paddock. 24. Rossi once dressed up as Elvis Presley for the magazine Rolling Stone. 25. Along with Shinya Nakano, Rossi has appeared in every race in the modern four-stroke MotoGP era. 26. In fact, since 1996, Rossi has never missed a race. 27. 2008 is Rossi's ninth year in the premier class. 28. He is a big fan of Internazionale (Milan) football club and is a good friend of their Italian international Marco Materazzi. 29. Rossi is a rally enthusiast and an accomplished driver - he has taken part in two WRC events and taken wins at the annual Monza Rally.

Jaeger-LeCoultre & Valentino Rossi - Sharing the Passion for Technology (Press Release)

(Note: Press Release is as supplied by Jaeger-LeCoultre, for our analysis of this news item, please see http://www.revolution-press.com/news/?p=77 )

Jaeger-LeCoultre and Valentino Rossi, united by the values of expertise, performance and a quest for perfection, have decided to join together in a partnership for two years. Combining their two worlds, Jaeger-LeCoultre and Valentino Rossi are forming a connection between high-quality watchmaking and state-of-the-art engineering.

Jaeger-LeCoultre, the elite Swiss watch Manufacture, and Valentino Rossi, the remarkable racing motorcyclist, have decided to work together for the next few years. Far from being simply an ambassador, Valentino Rossi will bring all his technical experience as the world’s best motorcycle rider to the Great House of the Vallée de Joux for the development of a sports range in the Master Compressor series. "We will listen very closely to his suggestions; not everything may be possible, but many things can be done", declared Jaeger-LeCoultre's Managing Director Jérôme Lambert, pointing out that "Jaeger-LeCoultre has always been the most innovative of the great Swiss watch houses. In the search for new and ever more extreme solutions, we are sure we will draw much inspiration from Valentino Rossi"

The idea of cooperation between Jaeger-LeCoultre and Valentino Rossi arose during the visit of the seventimes World Champion to the Manufacture of Le Sentier on 26 April. What is more, on that occasion he was wearing "The" sports watch of the House, a Master Compressor Exteme World Chronograph. For more than two hours the rider, accompanied by Jérôme Lambert, visited the various departments of the Manufacture, arousing ever-increasing enthusiasm among the women and men responsible for the creation of the timepieces of the House. This enthusiasm was returned by Valentino, who has identified in the world of Jaeger-LeCoultre the same passion that there is in his field and the same maniac attention to detail. "It is astonishing that there should be workmanship of this kind behind every watch: it is just like one of my motorbike engines, except that the mechanism is miniaturised." First fascinated by the lacquer workshop, where 80 to 100 hours are spent in personalising the dials and casebacks of the most exclusive watches with the finest brushes, Valentino then wanted to try using the machine which ornaments the movements of Jaeger-LeCoultre watches with a tiny percussive pin controlled by a lever. With eyes fixed to the microscope, after the first tentative strokes he acquired the correct pace: concentrating as he would when taking a corner at 125 mph, he pressed the lever with two fingers of the right hand just as he would the front brake lever of his motorbike, delicately but decisively. “Am I quick enough yet?” Valentino Rossi asked the expert who had given him his chair. But it was Jérôme Lambert who replied, "Perfect, we would take you on here. And if they ask you what you will be doing next year, you can say that you have a guaranteed place decorating watches at Jaeger-LeCoultre".

Less successful was Valentino's attempt at using tweezers to pick up one of the microscopic screws which are used in the assembly of the balance. After several tries he said "It is not difficult, it is impossible." And, in response to the woman who invited him to try again, having indicated that there are only a couple of seconds to carry out the operation, the Champion replied by pointing a photograph in which he was leaning his powerful bike as far as possible and saying "I feel more comfortable there".

For the visit, Valentino Rossi wore one of the watchmakers' white coats. He asked for "a size 46", which fitted him perfectly – of course, since 46 is his lucky number, the number which he continues to carry on his motorbikes even though as World Champion he has the right to number 1. Indeed, in his honour the whole manufacture was covered with little posters on which the number 46 had been printed in yellow. By the end of his visit Valentino had signed nearly all of them for the staff.

Recalling the values shared by Jaeger-LeCoultre and Valentino Rossi, Jérôme Lambert stressed at the end of the visit that "the talent, the personality, the continual facing up to challenges and the professionalism of Valentino Rossi in his work will be a new source of inspiration and energy in our quest for ever more extreme challenges. Our technical research has never stopped aiming at the future, having been successful for 170 years, with over 200 patents, 40 specialist crafts and 20 state-of-the-art technologies. Valentino has demonstrated that he knows how take something up and turn it into a success. Our work will be a synergy of success."

This enthusiasm is shared by Valentino Rossi who, with the eye of an expert mechanic, noticed a remarkable similarity between the Jaeger-LeCoultre logo and the anchor, the key component of the balance controlling the timekeeping of the watch. At Le Sentier the great Champion found many affinities with the world of motorbikes. "Here too there are very talented people who carry out their work with passion. I find it fascinating that at the Manufacture the process starts with the raw material, a simple piece of metal, and ends with the construction of an extremely complicated watch. The final finishing operations are carried out with incredible precision. Let us say this: it can be compared to the precision which is needed to ride a motorbike."

The Jaeger-LeCoultre Manufacture is proud to associate its 170 years of history and its watchmaking knowledge with the expertise of young talents. There is no doubt that the association of high-quality watchmaking and state-of-the-art mechanical engineering will give birth to some fabulous projects which will begin to appear at the end of 2006.

For the details regarding the First Valentino Rossi Limited Edition, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Compressor Extreme World Chronograph "46", see http://www.revolution-press.com/news/?p=125

Rossi the Best

MotoGP Overview

MotoGP is the world’s premier motorcycling championship, with a season of 18 Grands Prix in 14 countries bringing together the world’s top motorcycle manufacturers such as Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Ducati, Kawasaki, Aprilia and KTM - plus an elite crop of riders from every corner of the globe.

The motorcycles used for MotoGP are purpose-built racing prototypes which are unavailable for purchase by the general public and cannot be legally ridden on public roads.

The Grand Prix Road-Racing World Championship was first organised by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) in 1949 and has been administrated by commercial rights owners Dorna Sports under the supervision of the FIM since 1992. It is the oldest motorsport World Championship in existence.

MotoGP began a new era in 2002 when revised regulations allowed for the participation of bikes with four-stroke engines. For the 2007 season the adaptation of MotoGP bikes from 990cc engine capacity to 800cc resulted in an even more exciting spectacle, with higher corner speeds and even more competitive races – patterns which are continuing this year.

Furthermore, in the opening round of 2008, MotoGP become the first motorsports World Championship to host a night-time Grand Prix, with the Losail International Circuit’s state-of-the-art new floodlight system permitting a superb start to the season in Qatar.

Grand Prix Weekends

On a Grand Prix weekend there are three individual races, one for each of MotoGP’s three categories:

• MotoGP – the ultimate test for the finest talents in motorcycle racing, in which maximum engine displacement capacity is now the aforementioned 800cc (four-stroke engines) and the minimum age for riders is 18.
• 250 – the intermediate category where maximum engine displacement capacity is 250cc (twin cylinder engines) and the minimum age for riders is 16.
• 125 – the class which offers young riders the chance to take their first step into Grand Prix, where maximum engine displacement capacity is 125cc (single cylinder engines), the maximum age for riders is 28 (or 25 years of age for wild-card riders or for newly contracted riders participating in a 125cc race for the first time) and the minimum age is 15 years old.

Races begin from a grid which is composed of three starting positions per row (four per row in the 250cc and 125cc classes), with starting places secured by qualifying times - the fastest rider earning the famous pole position. The races can vary between 95km and 130km in distance and usually last approximately 40-45 minutes, each being a spectacular sprint to the finish line, with pit-stops being rare rather than the norm.

Tyre selection is therefore absolutely crucial and is undertaken by the teams following consultation with their riders based on knowledge of the track, weather conditions and the feel of the bike during free practice, qualifying and the pre-race warm-up sessions. A critical balance has to be found between grip and the endurance of the tyre, as soft, ‘gripping’ tyres permit quicker speeds and faster lap times but wear out quickly, whilst harder, less ‘sticky’ tyres last longer but do not assist the rider in achieving maximum velocity.

Riders

The current MotoGP World Champion is Australian Casey Stoner of the Ducati Marlboro team, who sensationally won the 2008 title in just his second season in the premier class – securing ten race wins along the way.

In defending his title in 2008 Stoner is faced with stiff competition from the likes of Valentino Rossi, the five-time MotoGP World Champion, and Dani Pedrosa, last year’s runner-up. Meanwhile, Rossi’s new Fiat Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo, the reigning 250cc World title holder, and Pedrosa’s Repsol Honda colleague Nicky Hayden, the 2006 MotoGP World Champion, are also stars of the show, with talent in abundance in each case.

Indeed, the level of racing ability throughout the 2008 MotoGP grid is exceptionally high, with the likes of Loris Capirossi, Andrea Dovizioso, Colin Edwards, John Hopkins, Marco Melandri and James Toseland also competing for podium finishes.

In the 250cc category the title race should be wide open this year, following the promotion of the likes of Lorenzo and Dovizioso to MotoGP. A strong Aprilia challenge is presented by Spanish trio Hector Barbera, Alvaro Bautista and Alex Debon, battling with KTM riders Mika Kallio and Hiroshi Aoyama.

In the single cylinder World Championship the current title holder is Hungary's Gabor Talmacsi, one of the older 125cc competitors, who defends his crown against a plethora of young riding talent in 2008.

The list of participants in each Grand Prix is composed of the permanent riders, contracted and nominated by their teams for the whole season, and wildcard entries – who are often local riders. Approximately 18 participants enter each MotoGP race, about 25 take part in each 250cc race and the 125cc races usually involve around 35 riders. The ages of the Grand Prix riders range from 34 for MotoGP’s Loris Capirossi, down to the previously stated minimum age limit of 15 for the youngsters in 125cc. The youngest regular rider in the championship is Repsol KTM rookie Marc Marquez.

Riders from around the globe take part in the World Championships including the following countries: Australia, Austria, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Republic of Ireland, Romania, San Marino, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, UK and USA.

For profiles of every rider from all three Grand Prix categories visit our dedicated Riders section.

Source

Motorbike of Valentino Rossi

Marlboro Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix

Valentino Rossi profile :
At 24 years old the list goes on...

Name: Valentino Rossi
Birth date: 16/02/1979
Birth place: Urbino, ITA
First Grand Prix: 1996 MAL 125cc
First Pole Position: 1996 CZE 125cc
First Race Fastest Lap: 1996 FRA 125cc
First Podium: 1996 AUT 125cc
First GP Victory: 1996 CZE 125cc
Grand Prix Starts: 122
500cc/MotoGP Starts: 62
250cc Starts: 30
125cc Starts: 30
Grand Prix Victories: 57
500cc/MotoGP Victories: 31
250cc Victories: 14
125cc Victories: 12
2nd Placements: 19
3rd placements: 12
Podium: 88
Pole Positions 26
Race Fastest Lap 54
World Championship Wins: 5
1997 125cc
1999 250cc
2001 500cc
2002 MotoGP
2003 MotoGP
Total Points: 2138

BIOGRAPHICAL DATA Born: February 16, 1979 in Urbino. Son of Graziano Rossi, who was third in the 1979 250cc World Championship on a Morbidelli. Begins sporting career in 1990 in mini-moto competitions. In 1993 makes debut with Cagiva in Italian 125cc Sport Production championship, taking first victories in rookie season and winning the title in 1994.
In 1995 contests European Championships as official Aprilia rider, finishing the season in third place. Retains his Italian 125cc Championship crown. MotoGP career: 1996: World Championship debut at the 125cc Malaysian GP riding an Aprilia in Scuderia AGV. Final Championship position: 9th with 111 points - 1 victory: Czech Republic.
1997: Second youngest ever 125cc Champion riding an Aprilia for the Nastro Azzurro Team. Final Championship position: 1st with 321 points - 11 wins: Malaysia, Spain, Italy, France, Netherlands, Imola, Germany, Brazil, Great Britain, Catalunya and Indonesia.
1998: Moves up to 250cc class riding an Aprilia for the Nastro Azzurro Team. Final Championship position: 2nd with 201 points - 5 wins: Netherlands, Imola, Catalunya, Australia and Argentina.
1999: Becomes the youngest ever 250 World Champion riding for the Aprilia Grand Prix Racing. Final Championship position: 1st with 309 points - 9 wins: Spain, Italy, Catalunya, Great Britain, Germany, Czech Republic, Australia, South Africa and Brazil.
2000: Moves up to the 500cc class riding a Honda for the Nastro Azzuro Team. Final Championship position: 2nd with 209 points - 2 wins: Great Britain and Brazil.
2001: Takes the 500cc World Championship riding a Honda for the Nastro Azzuro Team. Final Championship position: 1st with 325 points. - 11 wins: Japan, South Africa, Spain, Catalunya, Great Britain, Czech Republic, Portugal, Pacific, Australia, Malaysia and Brazil.
2002: Wins revised format MotoGP World Championship riding all-new four stroke Honda RC211V for the Repsol Honda Team. Final Championship position: 1st with 355 points -11 wins: Japan, Spain, France, Catalunya, Italy, Netherlands, Great Britain, Germany, Portugal, Brazil and Australia.
2003: Wins his second MotoGP World Championship for the Repsol Honda Team. Final Championship position: 1st with 307 points after 14 of 16 rounds. 7 wins so far: Japan, Spain, Italy, Czech Republic, Portugal, Rio and Malaysia. Other facts about Rossi\'s career: In 2001 Rossi became the youngest ever rider to win titles in three different classes. The only other two riders to win titles in three classes are Phil Read (125, 250, 500) and Mike Hailwood (250, 350, 500). Rossi was the fourth youngest rider ever to win the 500cc title after Freddie Spencer, Mike Hailwood and John Surtees. Rossi is the second rider ever to win the premier class title with a two-stroke and a four-stroke machine (2001 – Honda NSR500; 2002 – Honda RC211V). The first was Giacomo Agostini (1966 to 1972 – MV 500cc four-stroke; 1975 Yamaha 500cc two-stroke). Rossi is the eighth rider to have won three or more successive premier-class titles. He joins an illustrious list which also includes Geoff Duke, John Surtees, Mike Hailwood, Giacomo Agostini, Kenny Roberts, Wayne Rainey and Mick Doohan.
Source

Rossi fastest at wet Shanghai

Valentino Rossi topped the timesheet today in a rain-soaked practice session at Shanghai, China, in preparation for Sunday's MotoGP. His lap times improved throughout the day, edging in front of Loris Capirossi by 0.355 seconds. John Hopkins was third fastest, 0.259 seconds behind Capirossi.
Rossi explained how his progress was achieved:
“In Turkey we were able to understand some of the problems we were having with the bike and we found some good solutions. The modifications we made using that data here this morning were really good and now I can ride the bike at 100 per cent. Even though it was wet the grip levels were very good.”

Combined free practice times:
1.VALENTINO ROSSI (ITA) Camel Yamaha Team, 2'09.393
2.Loris Capirossi (ITA) Ducati Marlboro Team, 2'09.748
3.John Hopkins (USA) Team Suzuki MotoGP, 2'10.007
4.Sete Gibernau (SPA) Ducati Marlboro Team, 2'10.187
5.Nicky Hayden (USA) Repsol Honda Team, 2'10.247
6.Marco Melandri (ITA) Fortuna Honda, 2'10.411
7.Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Repsol Honda Team, 2'10.815
8.Casey Stoner (AUS) Honda LCR, 2'11.016
9.Makoto Tamada (JPN) Konica Minolta Honda, 2'11.313
10.Randy de Puniet (FRA) Kawasaki Racing Team, 2'11.425
Source

Valentino Rossi Profile

Biography

Date of Birth	16/02/1979
Place of Birth	Urbino, Italy
Nationality	Italian
Residence	London, UK
Height	182 cm
Weight	59 kg
Marital Status	Single
Hobbies	Soccer, radio-controlled toys
Total Races	GP starts: 174 (114 x MotoGP/500cc, 30 x 250cc, 30 x 125cc)
Victories	84 (57 x MotoGP/500cc, 14 x 250cc, 12 x 125cc)
Pole Positions:	45
Podiums	127
Wins	7 Grand Prix (1 x 125cc, 1 x 250cc, 1 x 500cc, 4 x MotoGP)
First Race	1991
First Grand Prix	Malaysia, 1996 (125cc)
First Pole	1996
* correct as of 01.01.2007

Valentino Rossi starts his fourth campaign as a Yamaha Factory Team rider in 2007 with the clear target of recapturing the MotoGP World Championship title after being dethroned by Nicky Hayden last year. After winning two consecutive World Championships with Yamaha in 2004 and 2005, following on from three previous back-to-back title successes, Rossi finished runner-up to the American despite scoring ten podiums and winning five races - more than any other rider. Now the record-breaking Italian, widely regarded as the finest motorcycle racer of his generation, starts the season without the crown to defend for the first time in five years.

Rossi’s five wins in 2006 took his premier-class career tally to 58, leaving him within striking distance of the legendary Giacomo Agostini’s all-time record of 68 – another enticing target for the 2007 season. For the third consecutive campaign Valentino will be ably assisted by his trusted team-mate and great friend Colin Edwards, as the pair apply their highly effective development partnership to Yamaha’s all-new 800cc machine and attempt to regain the Manufacturers’ and Teams’ titles they won together in 2005.

Rossi’s World Championship debut came at the Malaysian Grand Prix in 1996 and he finished his first international season in 9th place with one race win. The following year he became the youngest ever rider to win the 125cc World Championship, winning eleven races along the way with Aprilia. The pattern continued when he moved into the 250cc class, taking second place in his first year before becoming World Champion in 1999, once again with Aprilia.
In 2000 he entered a new phase of his career when he joined forces with Honda in the 500cc class. He proved his worth once again by finishing second, before becoming the last ever 500cc World Champion in 2001. Rossi held onto his crown four the next four consecutive seasons, taking the MotoGP World title in 2002 and 2003, before moving to Yamaha and winning again in 2004 and 2005.

Rossi made history by moving to Yamaha in 2004 and winning the season-opening Grand Prix in South Africa, becoming the first rider in the history of the sport to win back-to-back premier class races for different manufacturers. He went on to win nine out of 16 races, finally clinching the World Championship title, Yamaha’s first for 12 years, with victory at the penultimate Grand Prix in Phillip Island. A final win at the Valencia Grand Prix also ensured that the Yamaha Factory Team won the team title. Rossi followed up that triumph with a season of unprecedented success in 2005, when he successfully defended the title once again with a total of eleven race wins and five pole positions - only finishing off the podium once.

Rossi turned 28 in February 2007 and remains the youngest rider to have won World Championships in all three classes. He continues to have the support of his long-standing Crew Chief, Jeremy Burgess, who moved from Honda to work with him at Yamaha Factory Racing.

One of the most popular members of the paddock, ‘The Doctor’ has a wide fan base all over the world. A keen football fan and an accomplished rally driver, he is based in London between races.
Source

1985
First go-kart

1989
Kart racing début

1990
Regional Kart Champion, with nine wins

1991
5th in Italian Junior Kart championship; made bike racing début on Minimotos

1992
Italian Minibike Endurance Champion

1993
12th in Italian 125cc Sport Production championship, with Cagiva

1994
Italian 125cc Sport Production Champion, with Cagiva

1995
Italian 125cc Champion; 3rd in European 125cc championship; 11th in Spanish Open 125cc championship - all with Aprilia

1996 Scuderia AGV, number 46 Aprilia
In his first Grand Prix season, aged seventeen, Valentino was ninth overall in the 125cc series, with 111 points and seven top six finishes. His first visit to the podium came in round ten, with third in Austria, and he won the race at Brno next time out
Also 10th in the European 125cc championship, with Aprilia

1997 Nastro Azzurro Aprilia, number 46 Aprilia
Rossi’s second year on 125s was dominant, with eleven wins from fifteen races. He also scored a second, a third and a sixth, to complete a 321-point record for the category, and his first World Championship title

1998 Nastro Azzurro Aprilia, number 46 Aprilia
The 1998 season was Rossi’s ‘learning’ year in the 250cc series, and he finished second as early as rounds three, four and five. His first win came at Assen in round seven, and four more at the end of the year took him to second overall, on 201 points, between rivals Loris Capirossi and Tetsuya Harada

1999 Aprilia Grand Prix Racing, number 46 Aprilia
As in the 125s, Valentino’s second 250 season saw him setting the pace, and his nine race wins meant he duly wrapped up a second GP championship. He was on the podium in twelve of sixteen races, and scored 309 points in total

2000 Nastro Azzurro Honda, number 46 Honda
For 2000, Rossi moved onto a works-supported 500cc Honda, engineered by the highly successful Jerry Burgess. Once again it was a learning process, but he was already finishing third in rounds four (where he qualified second), five and seven. A late season run, including wins in Britain and Brazil, saw him emerge as the nearest challenger to champion elect Kenny Roberts. A final tally of 209 points placed him second behind the American Suzuki rider
Also qualified sixth for the Suzuka 8 Hours, with Colin Edwards

2001 Nastro Azzurro Honda, number 46 Honda
By his second year, Valentino was ready to take the 500 title. Despite a strong challenge from compatriots Max Biaggi and Loris Capirossi, he racked up four pole positions and had thirteen podiums, including eleven wins. In the end he was over 100 points clear - 325 to Biaggi’s 219 - and went down in history as the last man to win a 500cc-only World Championship
Also won the Suzuka 8 Hours, with Colin Edwards and Manabu Kamada, and set fastest lap

2002 Repsol Honda Team, number 46 Honda
For 2002, Rossi and Burgess were brought into the full factory Honda team, which had produced the RC211V bike for the new 990cc four-stroke GP1 regulations. Despite four-stoke opposition from Max Biaggi, Tohru Ukawa and others, Valentino was once again the top rider. Pole positions at seven venues were converted into another eleven victories, including a run of seven straight that was only ended by a tyre failure. This time 355 points was 140 clear of his nearest rival!

2003 Repsol Honda, number 46 Honda
As ever, Rossi was the man to beat in Grands Prix, finishing first, second or third in each of the sixteen races during the year, and wrapping up another title. Although Sete Gibernau stayed in touch for some time, Valentino had plenty of experience in making the decisive break, and is still regarded as the talent by which the rest are jugded.

2004 Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha, number 46 Yamaha
For 2004, Rossi’s challenge was to take Yamaha back to the top, and that is what he did, despite Honda’s apparent performance advantage. A winner first time out, he was first home nine times in total, with five pole positions, and was always in the top four bar two non-finishes.

2005 Yamaha Gauloises Team, number 46 Yamaha
Starting as the favourite for 2005, success for the fourth time means that Valentino remains the only man to take a 990cc MotoGP class title. The Yamaha M1 was improved, but not superior to the rest and, with a lack of consistency from his Honda rivals, Rossi returned to dominant form. To complete the journey, his performances in torrential rain also proved unbeatable.
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