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Valentino Rossi is undeniably the greatest motorcycle racer of all time. No matter what your opinion is of him, the statistics prove him to be the best the world has seen.

In honour of the great ‘Doctor’, as he is fondly known, Monster Energy has released this five episode video called ‘The Greatest of All-Time’.

The video is about Rossi of course, but also provides an insight into the appeal and reach of the most popular motorcycle racer in the history of Grand Prix racing and MotoGP. Watch Valentino speak about his success, as well as Colin Edwards and others from the Italians inner circle, and from the close-knit community from Rossi’s hometown of Tavullia, Italy.

This first chapter lasts for about nine minutes and dives into questions on what makes Rossi the greatest. Episode 2 will be released at the end of May, but for now, enjoy the video below:

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A series of 5 episodes will presents the life and thrills of the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time); Valentino Rossi. He started in the world championship since 1996 and this has been 20 years of VR46 tearing the track all over the world. Check out the video: (more…)

Living MotoGP legend, icon and superstar Valentino Rossi stars in exclusive web TV series produced by Monster Energy.

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Honda factory rider Dani Pedrosa seems set to beat Maverick Vinales to the dream seat at Yamaha and to be Rossi’s teammate for 2017 and beyond.

With Lorenzo confirmed at Ducati for the 2017 season, speculation is mounting on who will be joining Rossi at Yamaha next year.

While the favourite has been the young star Maverick Vinales currently riding for Suzuki, word from the MotoGP paddock is now suggesting that Dani Pedrosa could be set to make a shocking move from Honda to Yamaha.

According to MCN, Vinales was the clear favourite to replace Lorenzo at Yamaha, but the talks have fallen through after “hardball salary negotiations”. Pedrosa seems to be the new clear favourite after 11 seasons at Honda.

The move to secure Pedrosa makes perfect sense for Yamaha; replacing Lorenzo with a rider who has a similar riding style to the Spanish World Champion, and one who has a reputation as the dream teammate. This could work out very well for Rossi in his personal quest to secure a 10th World Championship.

But who will replace Pedrosa at the Honda factory team? Well our source says that this could be the chance British rider Cal Crutchlow to have a second go as a factory rider at Honda considering Crutchlow already has a good relationship with Honda.

After weeks of speculation, it is officially official, reigning MotoGP World Champion Jorge Lorenzo will leave the Yamaha MotoGP team at the end of this season. The destination for Lorenzo is the Ducati factory team.

The following is an excerpt from Yamaha’s statement:

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“Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. announces that its partnership with Jorge Lorenzo will be discontinued at the close of the 2016 MotoGP season, when Lorenzo will move on to new racing challenges,” read a Yamaha statement.

“Since Lorenzo joined the Yamaha Factory Racing Team in 2008, Lorenzo and Yamaha won three MotoGP World Championships (2010, 2012 and 2015), clinched 41 race wins and have been on the podium 99 times out of 141 races contested.

“Yamaha is extremely grateful for Jorge’s contributions to its racing successes and looks forward to sharing more memorable moments during the remaining 15 MotoGP rounds of 2016, their ninth season together.

“Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. wishes Lorenzo the very best in his future racing endeavours and reconfirms the Movistar Yamaha MotoGP team’s full support on his campaign to achieve his fourth MotoGP title.

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Ducati issued the following statement:

“Ducati announces that it has reached an agreement with Jorge Lorenzo thanks to which the Spanish rider will take part in the MotoGP World Championship in 2017 and 2018 aboard the Ducati Desmosedici GP of the Ducati Team.

“Lorenzo, born in Palma de Mallorca on 4 May 1987, has won five world championship titles throughout his racing career (250cc in 2006 and 2007 and MotoGP in 2010, 2012 and 2015).”

Why suddenly?

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Ducati fishing for Lorenzo to don the colour red is nothing new, in fact the Italian team has been at it since 2009 but were turned down multiple times.

Now seems to be the right time for the greatest Spanish racer of all time to make his move.

Many feel that Lorenzo has achieved his best onboard the Yamaha M1, and that Lorenzo is not being perceived with the greatness he deserves.

The Ducati however seems to be primed to win, with both Andrea Dovizioso and Andrea Iannone having claimed podium finishes and pole positions, despite lacking the ‘racing sparkle’ that separates the Greats from the podium finishers.

Apparently Lorenzo also feels slighted that Rossi’s contract extension was announced first, instead of the reigning World Champion’s. This is being perceived as Yamaha placing more importance on The Doctor than on Lorenzo. The fact that Yamaha just announced a partnership with Rossi’s VR46 Riders Academy may also have a part to play in Lorenzo’s departure.

The musical chairs begin

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What that means is that someone will have to take over his seat at Yamaha, and one of the Andreas at Ducati will have to vacate their seat.

Andrea Iannone won no favours when he took out both himself and Dovizioso just metres away from a podium finish for both riders in Argentina. And Dovi is also being perceived as the more cool headed one among the two Italians, so it is Dovi that is tipped to stay at Ducati.

Yamaha on the other hand has made no announcement or hinted at the rider to take over from Lorenzo, but it is the upcoming star at Suzuki, Maverick Vinales that is being tipped as the favourite to ride for Yamaha.

Can Lorenzo do what Rossi couldn’t?

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There is no doubt that Lorenzo is one of the all-time greats, in his prime even Rossi was tested at almost every race. Lets not forget that this is the same guy who claimed a podium and second place finish on his debut race in 2008, and in 2010 won six races and never finished a race lower than second. He claimed the title with 383 points, a feat yet to be emulated.

Rossi on the other hand has a galaxy of achievements to his credit as well, but he couldn’t tame the Ducati before returning to Yamaha. If Lorenzo manages to win a race and more at Ducati, he could just clinch the coveted “Mr Popular” title that Rossi has had tor decades.

With the new Ducati Desmo race machine already showing signs of greatness, it seems likely that Lorenzo could just do what even the great Rossi couldn’t – tame a wild Ducati MotoGP race machine.

It is unlikely that Lorenzo will speak openly about Ducati until the end of the season, but if there is one thing for sure, the 2017 MotoGP season is going to be awesome!

Image Credits: MotoGP

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Formula One and MotoGP have their own fans, but over the years Formula One seems to be losing it with sad racing, financial issues with racing teams, and even world class drivers who act like babies. These are 5 reasons to ditch the four wheeled sport to watch those with two big nuts on two wheels. (more…)

New Dainese D-Store Kuala Lumpur opens in Glenmarie, becomes first in region to offer services for D-Air race suits!

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Marc Marquez got his MotoGP™ World Championship title defence off to the perfect start after the Repsol Honda rider emerged victorious from a closely-fought contest with Movistar Yamaha MotoGP’s Valentino Rossi.
Starting from pole position, Marquez traded places with Rossi at the front of the field numerous times throughout the twenty-two lap race, before Marquez made the race-winning pass in the final stages to take the chequered flag by 0.259 seconds. In third place at the Qatar Grand Prix was Repsol Honda’s Dani Pedrosa who crossed the finish line 3.370 seconds after his teammate.
The track temperature for the race was the coolest recorded over the whole race weekend, with a peak recording of just 20°C which brought with it a spike in humidity levels. This resulted in many riders commenting after the race that grip levels were lower than the Warm Up session four hours earlier. Although conditions were quite cool, only two riders selected the soft compound front slick, with the rest of the grid opting for the hard compound front slick. For the rear tyre, only race-winner Marc Marquez selected the hard compound rear slick for the race, and the medium compound rear was by far the popular choice, with fifteen riders selecting this option. Seven of the eleven Open-class entrants selected the soft compound rear slick for the Qatar Grand Prix.  (more…)

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Seven-time MotoGP ace and icon Valentino ‘The Doctor’ Rossi has established his first and very own motorcycle racing school recently. (more…)

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Yamaha Factory Racing were back in Malaysia today for the first day of the second official test of the 2013 season at the Sepang International Circuit. The riders were able to test throughout the morning but were then forced to call off the remainder of the day’s testing due to rain. Reigning World Champion Jorge Lorenzo was again quick to get up to pace, managing to complete a total of 25 laps before retiring for the day in second position, 0.235 seconds from first. The Mallorcan spent the day focusing on bike set up in the search for better acceleration from his M1.   (more…)

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It was yet another great annual event organized by Dainese Malaysia. Approximately 40 riders were present to catch briefings by MSS podium rider Nasarudin Yusop before Malaysian Moto3 hero, Zulfahmi Khairuddin shared his vast riding skill tips with the participants. (more…)

It’s February and that can only mean one thing – MotoGP Winter Test in Sepang! Fans of this exhilarating, gravity-defying sport will be kept at the edge of their seats as these young and handsome speed demons race their bikes on the tarmac track for the best lap time.

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