Valentino Rossi

1. Who is Valentino Rossi?

Valentino Rossi, born February 16, 1979 in Urbino, Italy, is one of the most iconic motorcycle legends. He is nicknamed "The Doctor" because of his methodical approach to competition. Valentino Rossi is not only famous for his skills as a driver, but also for his charismatic personality and sense of humor, making him one of the most loved and respected drivers in the world.

Valentino Rossi and his iconic racing number, 46 / © DPPI

2. Valentino Rossi’s junior career

Valentino Rossi began his career in junior motorcycle championships, winning the 125cc world championship in 1997 riding an Aprilia and the 250cc world championship in 1999, again with the Aprilia team. These successes reinforced his reputation as an exceptional driver, capable of adapting to different displacements.

3. Valentino Rossi’s MotoGP journey

Valentino Rossi made his MotoGP debut in 2000 with the Honda Repsol team. In his first season in the premier class, Valentino Rossi showed his talent by finishing second overall behind Kenny Roberts Jr. However, he won the 500cc world championship title that year.

Valentino Rossi became world champion in the premier category in 2001. He was the last rider crowned under the 500cc name before the arrival of MotoGP. Still at Honda, Valentino Rossi won the 2002 and 2003 titles with the Sakura manufacturer.

Valentino Rossi has long been in the heyday of Yamaha / © DPPI

In 2004, Rossi joined Yamaha, where he continued to dominate the MotoGP class. He won two more championships in 2004 to 2005, before handing over the crown to Nicky Hayden in 2006 and Casey Stoner in 2007. Valentino Rossi returned to success in 2008, before winning in 2009. This period was marked by his epic rivalry with the Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo, his teammate at Yamaha.

After a brief foray at Ducati in 2011 and 2012, Rossi returned to Yamaha in 2013, where he continued to compete until 2020. Although he did not add any new world titles during this period, he remained a top competitor and continued his quest for victories in MotoGP.

Valentino Rossi is a motorsport legend / © DPPI

His legendary rivalry with other MotoGP greats, such as Max Biaggi, Sete Gibernau, Jorge Lorenzo and Marc Márquez, has captivated fans around the world. Valentino Rossi is also known for his ability to adapt to different teams and remain competitive at the highest levels of competition, demonstrating his versatility and unrivaled talent.

Valentino Rossi joins the Petronas Yamaha SRT satellite team in 2021 and retires at the end of this campaign.

With 89 victories, 199 podiums, 55 pole positions, 76 fastest laps in a race, and 5415 points scored between 2000 and 2021 in the premier category, Valentino Rossi is one of the greatest drivers in history.

Valentino Rossi retired from MotoGP at the end of 2021 / © DPPI

4. Valentino Rossi’s car journey

After retiring from MotoGP at the end of the 2021 season, Valentino Rossi turned to motorsport. Having become a BMW driver, he now races in GT World Challenge Europe with Team WRT and won the Road to Le Mans event with Jérôme Policand in June 2023.

Valentino Rossi is aiming for a place at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, potentially at the wheel of the LMDh BMW, the BMW M Hybrid V8 operated by WRT in WEC, and RLL in IMSA.

Even before the end of his motorcycle career, Rossi had distinguished himself in rallying (seven-time winner of the Monza Rally Show) and had tested with Ferrari in Formula 1. The Italian driver had not come far from racing in Grands Prix at the end from the 2000s.

Valentino Rossi with WRC world champions Petter Solberg and Sébastien Loeb at the 2006 Rally New Zealand / © DPPI

5. AUTOhebdo's opinion on Valentino Rossi

Motorcycle legend, Valentino Rossi not only boasts a grandiose track record but also unparalleled popularity among fans. After an immense career in MotoGP, “The Doctor” launched a new challenge, that of competing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the premier Hypercar category with BMW. Let's hope he takes up his bet!

Valentino Rossi took part in the last WEC Rookie test held in Bahrain / © DPPI

6. Learn more about Valentino Rossi

Valentino Rossi at the start of the 12 Hours of the Gulf with BMW

Valentino Rossi surprise guest of the WEC Rookie Test!

Valentino Rossi, the Doctor passes the endurance test

Delighted with his reconversion to GT, Valentino Rossi takes pleasure in WRT and Maxime Martin

Valentino Rossi after his first victory: “I can't be happier”