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Rossi Hood, GP British, 1997
  • Valentino Rossi telah mencecah usia 40 tahun pada hari ini.
  • Sepanjang kerjaya perlumbaannya, juara dunia sembilan kali ini telah menggondoli kejuaraan 125cc, 250cc, 500cc, dan berbilang takhta MotoGP.
  • Ayahnya, Graziano, menyatakan yang Rossi boleh berlumba sehingga dia berusia 46 tahun jika dia mahu.

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Here’s the conclusion to Ten Famous Motorcycle Racing Rivalries. You may click on the link below for Part 1.

Ten Fiercest Motorcycle Racing Rivalries (Part 1)

5. Carl Fogarty vs. Scott Russell, WSB, 1992 – 1994

There has never been such intense rivalry in WSB since Carl Fogarty and Scott Russell’s in the early 90s.

The two were WSB contenders, with the American Russell winning the 1993 crown on the Kawasaki Ninja ZXR-750, while Fogarty’s (more popularly called “Foggy”) reign started from 1994 on the new Ducati 916. The pair had even refused to shake hands on many occasions. Legend has it that Foggy named his pet pig after his No. 1 rival.

The intense hatred was even brought all the way to America in the 1994 Daytona 200 race which Russell won. They refused to look at each other on the podium and post-race press conference. When answering questions, they reached out to the microphone and yanked it away from in front of another.

4. Valentino Rossi vs. Max Biaggi, 500cc GP, 2000 – 2005

Valentino Rossi had moved up through the 125cc and 250cc GP ranks at a meteoric pace and moved up to the 500cc championship in 2000 and started playing mind games with anyone who had challenged him on track. While he built a massive army of followers worldwide through his on-track and off-track shenanigans, he’s only a friend on the track when results are going his way. It’s also due to his that tribalism exists among MotoGP fans: You’re automatically branded as a Rossi fan-boy if you criticized other riders.

By 2001, he was ready to challenge Max Biaggi after the defending champion, Kenny Roberts Jr. faded. Biaggi, known as the “Roman Emperor” had to show the young punk a who’s top dog.

Courtesy of MotoGP.com

At the 2001 Suzuka 500cc GP race, Biaggi elbowed Rossi onto the grass while the pair was travelling at around 220 km/h. Rossi repassed Biaggi on the next lap and saluted the latter with his middle finger. Both riders were fined and given a stern warning for “unsportsmanlike conduct.” The rivalry came to a head at Catalunya when the two scuffled on the steps leading up to the podium. When Biaggi was asked about the mark on his face, he replied that he was “bitten by a mosquito.”

3. Valentino Rossi vs. Casey Stoner, Jorge Lorenzo – MotoGP, 2007 – 2011

2007 was the year of the 800cc four-stroke machines in MotoGP. Suddenly, it was Australian Casey Stoner on the Ducati who started beating Rossi. Rossi claimed that it was because of the Bridgestone tyres on the Ducati which let Stoner win. Stoner dominated the season by winning ten races and gave Ducati their first and still only MotoGP title.

But things flared up further when the pair battled hard at the 2008 USGP at Laguna Seca. Rossi made an aggressive pass into the famous Corkscrew chicane, causing Stoner to drop his Ducati. Further angering Stoner was Rossi’s comments after the race, “The fight was very funny,” although some thought the Italian meant “fun.” Stoner was of course more caustic in his reply, calling Rossi’s tactics dirty and dangerous.

Stoner moved onto the factory Honda in 2011 and this was the year of another interface with Rossi. At a wet Jerez race, Stoner had been following the late-Marco Simoncelli. Rossi, who was now on a Ducati, lunged up inside Stoner on the way into Turn One, skidded and took both men out. However, all the marshals ran over to assist Rossi while no one did so for Stoner. Again, the Australian went on TV to criticize Rossi, saying “Your ambition outweighs your talent.” Then fans of both camps got involved and it started a war of words on Twitter.

2. Kevin Schwantz vs. Wayne Rainey, AMA Superbikes and 500cc GP, 1986 – 1993

The rivalry between these two legends had begun way back even before we saw them on TV in the 500cc GP. Their intense dislike for each other had started when they were contesting in the United States and what we saw in the GPs was just a continuation.

They had hated each other so much that they openly admitted to barging into each other and riding dirty. Schwantz said, “We would ride each other right into the grandstands.” Their rivalry was so intense they couldn’t look at each other on the podium.

Things took a different turn when Rainey was paralysed by his crash at Misano in 1993. That accident force Schwantz to reflect upon on his own mortality. Besides, with his greatest rival gone, his reason for pushing himself hard was gone too. It was when both riders realized that neither knew why they hated each other.

Schwantz decided the best thing he could do was support Rainey through his hardship and both have become good friends ever since.

1. Valentino Rossi vs. Marc Marquez, MotoGP, 2015 and ongoing

Schwantz vs. Rainey would have been the Number 1 rivalry if not for this very intense and very current state of affairs.

Both riders have been good friends even when Marquez had dominated and won from his very first season in MotoGP. It had seemed that Rossi may have mellowed out somewhat because they remained affable with each other despite a few aggressive passes on-track. However, it all changed from 2015.

Rossi had been battling with Lorenzo all season long and the former led the standings going into the penultimate round in Malaysia. Marquez had been third up to that point and was out of a title shot. Marquez turned up the aggression during the race, passing Rossi in do-or-die situations, while Lorenzo disappeared at the front. Rossi even signaled to Marquez to back off at one point, but there was no end to chopping and cutting off. An exasperated Rossi then pushed Marquez wide, causing the Spaniard to crash.

Rossi would later accuse Marquez of helping Lorenzo to win the title; an allegation Marquez had consistently denied. Many had speculated that Marquez had felt that it was Rossi who had cost him the title that year and was out for revenge.

Rossi was penalized and sent to the back of the grid for the final race in Valencia. He fought his way up the order but lost the title to Jorge Lorenzo.

Both riders made amends at the Catalan GP in 2016. It was a move welcomed by the racing community and fans alike.

But, just as everyone thought that was the end, Marquez did a mistake during the 2018 Argentinian GP which knocked Rossi out. Rossi held a special press conference to call Marquez irresponsible, dangerous and damaging the sport as a whole.

Both riders have yet to talk to each other at the time of this article.

Valentino Rossi

Valentino Rossi memikirkan yang dia serta rakan sepasukannya, Maverick Vinales “mempunyai masalah dan tidak tahu akan puncanya”, dan amat risau akan peluang mereka untuk bersaing dengan baik di GP Jepun di Litar Twin Ring Motegi, sekiranya cuaca hujan ini berterusan. Kedua-dua penunggang dari pasukan Movistar Yamaha MotoGP ini telah bergelut sepanjang musim dengan kekurangan cengkaman di bahagian belakang jentera Yamaha YZF-M1 mereka.

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Valentino Rossi reckons he and teammate Maverick Vinalez are “in trouble and don’t know why,” in  worried about their chances at the Japanese GP, should the rain continue. The pair has been struggling with lack of rear grip on their Yamaha YZF-M1 through the entire season.

Riders may be able to ride around the problem in the dry, but the rain amplifies the problem.

The factory team seemed to make some headway in previous races, without doubt also attributed to riders’ skill and determination, however yesterday’s free practice sessions at Motegi saw both riders 11th and 12th fastest.

Rossi said, “We’re in trouble and we don’t understand why. Last year I was very competitive in the wet and had a good feeling with the old bike, but this year we’re struggling. We’ve tried to modify the bike, but in the end we’re far from the top. It’s the same as the problem in the dry – we don’t have rear grip.”

While Valentino Rossi knows he’s out of contention for his 10th title as a result of a broken leg, Maverick Vinalez saw first his lead, and now his chances for his first MotoGP tltle slip further and further away.

At the time this article went “live,” Andrea Dovizioso of Ducati Team continued to be the fastest man after FP3 on combined free practice times, ahead of Marc Marquez, Aleix Espargaro and Jorge Lorenzo.

Valentino Rossi dug deep and found some pace to first make it into the top ten before finally going up to fifth fastest. Vinalez is in 14th, meaning that he will need to fight through Q1. The Top 12 combined times qualify automatically to Q2.

Q1 starts at 1:10pm today (14th October).

 

  • Valentino Rossi telah mendapat kebenaran untuk berlumba pada pusingan MotoGP hujung minggu ini di Aragon.
  • Rossi telah pun menjalankan penilaian kecergasan di Misano beberapa hari yang lalu.
  • Rossi mengalami kecederaan retak tulang kaki kanannya pada dua bahagian semasa satu kemalangan enduro pada awal bulan ini.

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  • Valentino Rossi is fit to race at the Aragon GP

  • Rossi had just tested his fitness at Misano

  • Rossi broke his lower leg in two places in an enduro accident 21 days ago

Valentino Rossi will race race at Aragon this weekend, after all. In a news that surprised everyone, perhaps even Rossi himself, the nine-time World Champion has been deemed fit to race.

Mandatory medical exams were carried out by MotorLand Aragon’s Chief Medical Officer, Clemente Milan. Rossi will take part in tomorrow’s FP1 session.

Rossi’s leg broke in two places in a freak, low-speed enduro accident just 21 days ago (click here to read about it). He has even said that such injury would normally take at least 40 days to heal, due to a similar injury back in 2010, which Jorge Lorenzo won his first MotoGP championship.

Rossi took to the track on a Yamaha R-1M street bike at Misano (click here for our coverage) to test his fitness and came away saying that he will try to race this weekend (click here for the full story).

Professional racers have long had a certain determination to get back to racing despite injuries that would sideline any mere mortal. Heroes past and present, such as Marc Marquez, Jorge Lorenzo, Casey Stoner, Mick Doohan, Kevin Schwantz, Wayne Rainey, Eddie Lawson, Freddie Spencer, in fact almost all of them would come back to ride and sometimes even win in spite of their injuries.

Rossi currently lies fourth in the 2017 MotoGP Championship with 157 points. Marquez and Andrea Dovizioso are jointly leading on 199 points, while Rossi’s teammate, Maverick Vinalez is in third with 183 points. Aragon GP is the 14th round of the 18-round 2017 championship.

Valentino Rossi’s 2017 MotoGP title chase is in doubt, when the 9-time world champion suffered fractures to his fibula and tibula in his right leg, following an enduro training crash.

Rossi underwent surgery overnight, where surgeons inserted a meal pin to fixate the fractures. Yamaha could not ascertain when he will return to the track but Rossi says that he’ll try his best to do so.

“The surgery went well,” Rossi said. “This morning, when I woke up, I felt already good. I would like to thank the staff of the Ospedali Riuniti in Ancona, and in particular Doctor Pascarella who operated on me.

“I’m very sorry for the incident. Now I want to be back on my bike as soon as possible. I will do my best to make it happen!”

Valentino Rossi had finished third at the just-concluded Octo British Grand Prix on 17th August 2017, and currently lies fourth in the championship standings with 157 points, 26 points behind the leader, Andrea Dovizioso of Team Ducati MotoGP who has accumulated 183 points.

FROM YAMAHA MOVISTAR MOTOGP UPDATE – 1st September 2017

“Last night Movistar Yamaha MotoGP‘s Valentino Rossi had a successful operation on the displaced fractures of the tibia and fibula of his right leg.

“The MotoGP-star was hospitalised after an enduro accident yesterday evening.

“Following a medical examination at the ’Ospedale Civile di Urbino’, where he was initially diagnosed, the Italian was transported to the ‘Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Ospedali Riuniti’ in Ancona.

“Upon arrival, he received surgery between 2am – 3am by Dr. Raffaele Pascarella, Director of the Orthopedics and Traumatology Division. During the surgery the fractures were fixated using a metal pin – a locked intramedullary nail – without any complications.

“Further medical updates will follow in due course.

“Yamaha would like to thank the entire staff of the ‘Ospedale Civile di Urbino’ and ‘Ospedali Riuniti di Ancona’ for their dedication and professional care.”

 

 


Juara dunia sembilan kali Valentino Rossi telah menyifatkan Litar Antarabangsa Chang sebagai membosankan. Reaksi ini adalah tindak balasnya kepada laporan yang mengatakan Thailand mungkin menjadi negara Asia yang ketiga menganjurkan perlumbaan MotoGP di litar yang terletak di Buriram.

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Nine time world champion Valentino Rossi has described the Chang International Circuit as boring. This is in response to reports that Thailand may be the third Asian country to host a MotoGP race at the circuit in Buriram.

In a report published by motorsport website crash.net, Rossi is said to be “not very happy to go” to Thailand in 2018.

The report said that Rossi was left “unmoved” after a recent trip to the Chang International Circuit. It is said that he was left unmoved by the location, and feels that the five hour drive from Bangkok would be “inconvenient for the traveling MotoGP community”.

Referring to the possible addition of a 19th race in 2018, Rossi was quoted as saying, “I think 18 is already a good number.”

“If from 18 goes to 19, it doesn’t change the world, but if it’s possible to remain 18, I’m more happy.”

Describing the problems with the track, Rossi said, “Especially the problem I think is, I was in Thailand for Yamaha two years ago and the track is not interesting. It’s very boring, has not a lot of corners, just long straights. I think it’s not the best place to go.”

“And also where the track is, is quite bad, it’s far from everything. So I’m not very happy to go to Thailand, essentially, on that track. But if we have to go, we’ll go.”

Marc Marquez too echoed the opinion of his rival, and agreed that the number of races per year was “already a lot”. However, Marquez too is open to the idea of sampling a new setting and layout.

“Like Valentino says, 18 race is already a lot,” said Marquez. “Maximum, I don’t know the plan in the future, but maximum 20 races will already be the limit for the riders. But, OK, Thailand is a new track, I like new tracks. Always when we go to new tracks I feel good. So why not? I like it.”

However, current championship leader Maverick Vinales expressed concern that the expansion to more races would make it more difficult for riders to keep fit throughout the season.

In the report, Vinales was quoted as saying, “It’s always difficult. When it’s more races it’s even more difficult because you have to continue on your 100% all of the year. It’s really difficult. When you have a great physical condition, six, seven more, you start to go down.

“But every person will go down, you cannot stay at the top level all the year. It’s going to make it more difficult, but also it’s going to be good for the show, more interesting. Let’s see. I don’t know. I like to go to new places, new tracks that we can enjoy it.

“Thailand, the place is quite nice, so it’s going to be quite nice to go there. It’s going to be good. Also, the other places, I like to go to new tracks and try it, and not always the same tracks. It’s going to be difficult to make all of the year at a really good level.”

Read the original report by Crash.net here.

  • AGV Pista GP-R, 100% Carbon Fiber shell

  • Winter tribute to his hometown, Tavullia

  • Top of the range full face race helmet from AGV

    Photo source: MCN

As we all know, the first official winter test session this year was conducted over at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) for three days from 30 January 2017 until 1 February 2017. Like every other winter test, the fans were keen and excited to have a look at what will be the special design of their beloved rider and 9 times MotoGP World Champion, Valentino Rossi. (more…)

Dani Pedrosa, the fastest MotoGP never to win a World Championship has squashed all rumours about him joining Rossi at Yamaha by signing for Honda until the end of the 2018 season.

Squashing all rumours about Pedrosa joining Rossi at Yamaha, Honda Racing Corporation has officially confirmed that Pedrosa will be staying with the Repsol Honda Team until 2018.

This coming weekend will be Dani Pedrosa’s 250th race in the World Championship.

Pedrosa has raced for HRC for his entire career which began in 2001 when the Spaniard made his Grand Prix debut in the then 125cc class.

From there Pedrosa went on to claim the 125cc and 250cc World Championship titles, and then entered the premiere class of MotoGP with the Repsol Honda Team in 2006. He has finished as the title runner-up on three occasions – 2007, 2010, 2012.

Just for the record, Dani Pedrosa has achieved more podium finishes for the Honda factory than any other rider – a total of 142 including 51 victories, three fewer than Mick Doohan’s Honda record.

Dani Pedrosa is currently fourth in the championship.

So with Pedrosa confirmed at Honda, the question remains as to who will partner Rossi at Yamaha. The young star Maverick Vinales could just have another shot at the coveted seat at Yamaha.

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