Valentino Rossi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Valentino Rossi
Rossi at the 2017 Aragon Grand Prix
Nationality	Italian
Born	(1979-02-16) 16 February 1979 (age 46) Urbino, Italy
Bike number	46 (retired in honour in the MotoGP class)
Motorcycle racing career statistics MotoGP World Championship Active years 2000–2021 Manufacturers Honda (2000–2003) Yamaha (2004–2010, 2013–2021) Ducati (2011–2012) Championships 7 (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009) 2021 championship position 18th (44 pts) Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points 372 89 199 55 76 5415 250cc World Championship Active years 1998–1999 Manufacturers Aprilia Championships 1 (1999) 1999 championship position 1st (309 pts) Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points 30 14 21 5 11 510 125cc World Championship Active years 1996–1997 Manufacturers Aprilia Championships 1 (1997) 1997 championship position 1st (321 pts) Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points 30 12 15 5 9 432
Signature
GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup career
Debut season	2022
Current team	Team WRT
Racing licence	FIA Silver
Car no.	46
Starts	24
Wins	2
Podiums	5
Poles	2
Fastest laps	0
Finished last season	5th in 2023
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup career
Debut season	2022
Current team	Team WRT
Car no.	46
Starts	11
Wins	0
Podiums	0
Poles	0
Fastest laps	0
Finished last season	15th in 2023
FIA World Endurance Championship career
Debut season	2024
Current team	Team WRT
Years active	2024–present
Car no.	46
Starts	7
Championships	0
Wins	0
Podiums	2
Poles	0
Fastest laps	0
Best finish	2nd in 2024
Previous series
1998–2018 2002, 2006, 2008 2012 2019–2023 2023 2023 2023	Monza Rally Show World Rally Championship Blancpain Endurance Series Gulf 12 Hours 24H Series Intercontinental GT Challenge Le Mans Cup – GT3
Championship titles
2006–2007, 2012, 2015–2018	Monza Rally Show

Valentino Rossi (born 16 February 1979) is an Italian racing driver. He used to be a professional motorcycle road racer. He is famous for winning nine Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Championships. People often call him The Doctor. Many consider Rossi one of the best motorcycle racers ever. He is also the only road racer to compete in 400 or more Grand Prix races.

Rossi won seven of his nine Grand Prix World Championships in the top 500cc/MotoGP class. He holds the record for most wins and podiums in this class. He has 89 wins and 199 podiums. He won championships with both Honda and Yamaha. He always raced with the number 46.

After joining the top class in 2000, Rossi won the last 500cc World Championship with Honda in 2001. He also won the Suzuka 8 Hours race that year. He continued his winning streak with Honda in 2002 and 2003. Then he won in 2004 and 2005 after moving to Yamaha. In 2006, he lost the title after a crash. He finished third in 2007. But he won the title again in 2008 and 2009.

After a tough 2010 season, he joined the Ducati team. He rode for them in 2011 and 2012 but did not win any races. Rossi returned to Yamaha in 2013. He finished fourth that year. Then he was runner-up three times in a row from 2014 to 2016. His best chance for a tenth title was in 2015. He led for most of the season but finished second to his teammate Jorge Lorenzo.

In 2017, he won his last race at the 2017 Dutch TT when he was 38 years old. After three seasons without wins, he moved to Petronas SRT for 2021. He retired after this season, ending a 26-year career without a podium finish for the first time. Rossi was the top rider in MotoGP during the 2000s. All seven of his premier class titles came in this decade. He also had 77 race wins and 48 pole positions.

Rossi was added to the MotoGP Hall of Fame in 2021. His famous #46 bike number was retired at the 2022 Italian motorcycle Grand Prix. Rossi now owns and manages the Racing Team VR46, which races in MotoGP. He also competes full-time in the FIA World Endurance Championship. He drives a BMW M4 GT3 for Team WRT, also with the number 46.

Career Highlights

Starting Out in Racing

Rossi was born in Urbino, Italy. His family later moved to Tavullia. His father, Graziano Rossi, was also a motorcycle racer. Valentino started riding at a very young age. At first, he loved karting. His mother was worried about his safety on bikes. So, his father bought him a kart instead. Valentino wanted to go faster. So, his father put a stronger engine in the kart for him when he was just 5 years old.

Rossi won the regional kart championship in 1990. After that, he started racing minimoto bikes. By the end of 1991, he had won many regional minimoto races.

He kept racing karts and finished fifth in the national kart championships. Valentino and his father thought about moving to bigger karting series. This might have led him to Formula One. But racing karts was very expensive. So, they decided to focus only on minimoto racing. Valentino learned a lot about minimoto in 1992 and 1993.

Junior Motorcycle Racing

In 1993, Rossi got his first chance to ride a 125cc motorcycle. This was thanks to former world champion Paolo Pileri. Pileri became a team manager after he stopped racing. Later in 1993, Rossi raced in the 125cc Italian Sport Production Championship. He rode a Cagiva Mito. In his first race, he crashed his motorcycle. But he still finished ninth that weekend.

His first season in the championship was mixed. But he got a pole position in the last race at Misano. He also finished on the podium there. In his second year, Rossi got a factory Mito bike. He then won the Italian title.

In 1994, Rossi raced in the Italian 125 CC Championship. He used a special bike called Sandroni. In 1995, Rossi switched to Aprilia. He won the Italian 125 CC Championship. He also finished third in the European Championship.

125cc World Championship Success

Rossi started racing in Grand Prix motorcycle racing in 1996. He was 17 years old. He scored points often in his first year. He sometimes finished just off the podium.

At the 1996 Austrian Grand Prix, Rossi got his first podium finish. He came in third place. In the next race, the 1996 Czech Republic Grand Prix, he got his first pole position. He also won his first 125cc race. He rode an AGV Aprilia RS125R.

He finished his first season in ninth place with 111 points.

In 1997, his second year, he joined the official Nastro Azzurro Aprilia Team. He dominated the season. He started with a pole position and a win in Malaysia. He won 11 of the 15 races. He finished with 321 points. He won the 1997 125cc title. Rossi often dressed up in fun costumes. This made him very popular with fans.

Moving to 250cc Racing

1998 Season

After winning the 125cc title, Rossi moved up to the 250cc class in 1998. The Aprilia RS250 bike was very strong that year. Rossi had to retire from the first two races. But he came back with three second-place finishes in a row.

He got his first victory at the 1998 Dutch TT. He was more than 19 seconds ahead of the second-place rider. He finished the season as the championship runner-up. He had 201 points.

1999 Season

In 1999, his second year in the 250cc class, Rossi was the only rider for the official Aprilia Grand Prix Racing team. He won the championship easily. He started with a pole position in Malaysia. He won the third race in Spain. He had back-to-back wins in Italy and Catalunya. He won three more races in a row from Britain to the Czech Republic.

Rossi won the title in Rio de Janeiro. He finished the season with 309 points. This was his first 250cc world championship title. It was his second title overall.

Competing in the 500cc World Championship

Honda Years (2000–2001)

2000 Season

After winning the 250cc World Championship in 1999, Rossi joined Honda in the 500cc class. This was the highest class in motorcycle racing. Retired five-time 500cc World Champion Mick Doohan helped Rossi in his first year. Rossi also raced against Max Biaggi for the first time.

Rossi had a tough start, retiring from the first two races. He got his first 500cc victory after nine races. This win came at Donington Park. He battled fiercely with other riders. He chose the right tires and won his first 500cc race.

After this win, Rossi had three podium finishes in a row. He won another race in Rio. He finished second in his first 500cc season with 209 points.

2001 Season

Rossi was very strong in his second 500cc season. He won 11 races. He only finished off the podium three times. He started the year with a win in Japan. He then had back-to-back pole positions and wins in South Africa and Spain. He won his first 500cc title with 325 points. This was his third title overall. He was 106 points ahead of Max Biaggi.

In 2002, the new 990cc four-stroke MotoGP class began. The 500cc two-stroke bikes became old-fashioned.

MotoGP World Championship Dominance

Honda Years (2002–2003)

2002 Season

The first year for MotoGP bikes was 2002. Riders had to get used to the new machines.

Rossi started the year strongly. He won the first race in Japan. He also got pole position in the first five races. He won eight of the first nine races. He ended up with 11 victories in total. He won his second MotoGP title in Rio de Janeiro. This was his first title in the new class and fourth overall. He won with four races still to go.

2003 Season

Rossi continued to be very strong in 2003. He faced competition from Sete Gibernau. Rossi won the first race in Japan. He won three more races and got two more pole positions.

Rossi won the 2003 title in Malaysia. This was his third title in the top class and fifth overall. He won with two races left. He won the final race in Valencia with a special bike design. This was his last win for Honda.

Rossi decided to leave Honda at the end of the season. Many people thought his success was only because the Honda bike was so good. Rossi signed a two-year contract with Yamaha. This deal was reportedly worth over $12 million.

Yamaha Years (2004–2010)

2004 Season

Rossi moved from Honda to Yamaha. Many people doubted his choice. They thought other riders would win the title.

The 2004 season started in South Africa. Rossi got pole position and won the race. He became the first rider to win two races in a row with different bike makers. He won the last race of 2003 on a Honda. He won the first race of 2004 on a Yamaha. He then had three wins in a row in Italy, Catalunya, and the Netherlands.

Rossi finished first with 304 points. He won his third MotoGP title. This was his fourth top-class title and sixth overall. He won it at the second-to-last race in Phillip Island.

2005 Season

In 2005, Rossi and the Yamaha team were even stronger. Rossi started the season by winning the first race in Spain. He then won five races in a row. He also got three pole positions.

Rossi won three more races after that. He finished the season in first place with 367 points. He was 147 points ahead of the second-place rider. He won his fourth MotoGP title. This was his fifth top-class title and seventh overall. He won it in Malaysia with four races left. He won 11 races that year.

2006 Season

The 2006 season started with Rossi as the favorite to win. But he had some bad luck. In the first race in Spain, another rider hit him. He crashed but finished 14th. He won the next race in Qatar. But he had to retire from two more races due to problems.

After these tough races, Rossi won two more. He finished second in Great Britain and won in Germany. But he retired again in the United States due to bike problems. This made him drop to fourth in the championship.

Rossi slowly climbed back up the points ladder. He won in Malaysia. He took the points lead by 8 points going into the last race. At the final race in Valencia, Rossi needed to finish second or higher to win the title. He started poorly and crashed on lap five. He finished 13th. He lost the title to Nicky Hayden by just five points.

2007 Season

After losing the title in 2006, Rossi tried again in 2007. The bike power was reduced from 990cc to 800cc. Rossi started with a pole position in Qatar but finished second to Casey Stoner. Rossi won the second race in Spain.

Rossi won his first race of the season in Italy. He took his fourth pole position of the season in Catalunya. He finished second there. Rossi then had a great win at the 2007 Dutch TT. He started 11th and passed many riders to win.

Rossi crashed out of the German race. He retired again at the San Marino race. By then, Stoner had a big lead. Rossi won his final race of the season in Portugal. At the Japanese race, Stoner became the 2007 world champion. Rossi finished third in the championship with 241 points. This was his lowest position since 1996.

2008 Season

After two tough seasons, some people wondered if Rossi could win another title. He switched from Michelin to Bridgestone tires.

Rossi started the year with a fifth place in Qatar. But he fought back with a second place in Spain. He finished third in Portugal. Rossi then won three races in a row. He had two more second-place finishes.

After a tough race in the Netherlands, Rossi took back the lead in Germany. He then won many races in a row. This included wins in the United States and Japan. His win in Japan was his first MotoGP victory at that track.

Rossi won his fifth MotoGP title in Japan. This was his sixth top-class title and eighth overall. He won with three races left. He wore a shirt that said "Sorry for the delay" in Italian. This showed he was happy to win again.

Rossi finished first in the championship with 373 points. He was 93 points ahead of Casey Stoner.

2009 Season

After his success in 2008, many expected Rossi to do well in 2009. He had two second-place finishes to start the year.

Rossi's first win of the year came in Spain. He took the championship lead. The French Grand Prix was tough for Rossi. He finished 16th and scored no points. His teammate Jorge Lorenzo took the championship lead.

Rossi finished third in Italy. He then won two more races. One was in Catalunya, where he battled Lorenzo and won on the last corner. The other was at the 2009 Dutch TT. This win was his 100th career victory. He became only the second rider to reach 100 wins.

Rossi finished second in the United States. He then got three more pole positions and wins. His win in Germany was a close battle with Lorenzo. Rossi won by a tiny margin. This gave him a 14-point lead over Lorenzo.

Rossi had a retirement in Indianapolis. But he won his "home race" in San Marino. He won his sixth MotoGP title in Malaysia. This was his seventh top-class title and ninth overall. He won with two races left.

Rossi finished first in the championship with 306 points. He was 72 points ahead of Jorge Lorenzo. Six wins was his lowest number of wins in a championship-winning season.

In June 2009, Rossi rode a Yamaha around the famous Snaefell Mountain Course. This was a special exhibition lap.

2010 Season

Rossi was the favorite to win the 2010 championship. He started the season well. He won the first race in Qatar. He took third place in Spain, even with an injured shoulder. He got a pole position and second place in France.

At round four in Italy, Rossi had a bad crash. He broke his right leg. This meant he could not win the 2010 title. He missed four races. This was the first time he missed a race in his Grand Prix career.

Rossi returned in Germany, much earlier than expected. He finished fourth. He got his first podium since his injury in the United States. He finished third at his "home race" in San Marino.

In Malaysia, Rossi had a great win. He started 11th and battled for the lead. This was his first win since his accident. Lorenzo won the title that year.

Rossi finished third in the championship with 233 points. He had ten podiums that season.

Ducati Years (2011–2012)

2011 Season

On 15 August 2010, Rossi confirmed he would ride for the Ducati team. He signed a two-year deal. He tested the Desmosedici bike for the first time in Valencia. This was his first time on an Italian motorcycle since 1999.

He started the season with a disappointing seventh place in Qatar. His best result of the year was in France. He got his first and only podium of the season there. He finished fifth in Catalunya and sixth in Great Britain.

Rossi finished ninth in Germany. He had two more sixth-place finishes. He had a tough end to the year. He crashed out of races in Japan and Australia.

In Malaysia, Rossi was in a collision with another rider, Marco Simoncelli. Simoncelli sadly died from his injuries. Rossi finished seventh in the championship with 139 points. He did not win any races that season. This was the first time in his Grand Prix career.

2012 Season

The 2012 season was a little better for Rossi with Ducati. He started with a tenth place in Qatar. He finished ninth in Spain and seventh in Portugal.

One of his best results came in France. He started seventh and finished second. This was his best finish on a Ducati bike.

The Ducati bike still struggled in many races. Rossi finished seventh in Catalunya and ninth in Great Britain. He finished sixth in Germany, his best dry result. He finished fifth in Italy. He had one retirement in the United States.

Rossi got another second place in San Marino. This was his best Ducati result again. He finished sixth in the championship with 163 points.

Return to Yamaha (2013–2020)

2013 Season

On 10 August, it was confirmed that Rossi would leave Ducati. He would rejoin the Yamaha factory team until the end of 2014. He would be teammates with Jorge Lorenzo again.

He started the season well in Qatar. He finished second after a battle with rookie Marc Márquez. He finished sixth in the Americas and fourth in Spain. He had a disappointing 12th place in France.

Rossi had his only retirement of the year in Italy. He was in a collision on the first lap. On 29 June 2013, Rossi won his first MotoGP race since 2010. This was at the 2013 Dutch TT. It ended a 46-race winless streak. He led the race from lap six to the end.

After this win, Rossi had two more third-place podiums. He finished fourth four times in a row. He got another third-place podium in Aragón. He finished fourth in Malaysia. He got a final third place in Australia.

Rossi finished fourth in the championship with 237 points. This was his best result since 2010. He had six podiums, including one win.

2014 Season

At the end of 2013, Rossi changed his crew chief. Silvano Galbusera took over.

Rossi started 2014 well with a second-place finish in Qatar. He battled Marc Márquez for the win. He finished eighth in the Americas and fourth in Argentina.

He got another second place in Spain. He led for much of the race in Catalunya but finished second. He had tough races in the Netherlands and Germany. Then he had three third-place finishes in a row.

At his "home race" in San Marino, Rossi won his first race since 2013. Márquez crashed, allowing Rossi to win. This win made him the first rider to get over 5000 career points.

In Australia, Rossi got his second win of the year. He also got a second place in Malaysia. He got his first pole position since 2010 in Valencia. He finished second in the race.

Rossi finished second in the championship with 295 points. He was 67 points behind champion Marc Márquez.

2015 Season

Many hoped Rossi could win his tenth title in 2015. He started the season by winning the first race in Qatar. This was his first season-opening win since 2010. He held off Andrea Dovizioso to win.

He got his second win of the season in Argentina. He battled with Marc Márquez, who crashed out on the last lap. This win helped him keep his championship lead.

He had his 200th Grand Prix podium in Spain. He continued his podium streak with second place in France and third in Italy. In Catalunya, he finished second.

Rossi got his first pole position of the season at the 2015 Dutch TT. He won the race after a battle with Márquez. This was his third win of the season. He extended his championship lead.

He finished third in Germany, Indianapolis, and the Czech Republic. He won his fourth race of the year in Great Britain. His podium streak of 16 races ended in San Marino.

In Japan, Rossi extended his championship lead to 18 points. Lorenzo then cut the lead to 11 points in Australia. Lorenzo cut the lead to seven points in Malaysia. Rossi finished third there. He got three penalty points for a collision with Márquez. This meant he had to start from the back of the grid for the last race in Valencia. Rossi finished fourth in Valencia. Lorenzo won the race and the championship by just five points.

2016 Season

Before 2016, Rossi announced he would stay with Yamaha until 2018. He started the season with fourth place in Qatar. He got second place in Argentina. He had his first retirement since 2014 in the Americas.

In Spain, Rossi got pole position and led the race from start to finish. This was his first time doing that in MotoGP. He finished second in France. He had an engine problem at his home race in Italy.

Rossi won in Catalunya after a battle with Márquez. He dedicated the win to Luis Salom, a Moto2 rider who had died. He crashed out of the lead in the Netherlands. He finished eighth in Germany.

Rossi finished fourth in Austria. He came second in the Czech Republic. He finished third in Great Britain. He was second at his "home race" in San Marino. He finished third in Aragón.

Rossi crashed out of second place in Japan. Márquez won the championship there. Rossi finished second in Australia and Malaysia. This secured second place in the championship for the third year in a row.

Rossi finished second in the championship with 249 points. He was 49 points behind champion Marc Márquez.

2017 Season

Rossi had a tough start to the 2017 season. But he improved and finished third in Qatar. He got two more second-place podiums in Argentina and the Americas. This gave him the championship lead.

The European season started tough. He finished tenth in Spain. He crashed out of the race in France while battling his teammate. He also lost the championship lead. Rossi had a motocross training crash. He still raced in Italy and finished fourth.

Tests of a new chassis helped. Rossi won his first and only race of the season at the 2017 Dutch TT. He battled Danilo Petrucci and won by a tiny margin. This made Rossi the oldest race winner in the MotoGP era.

He finished fifth, fourth, and seventh in the next three races. Rossi returned to the podium in Great Britain, finishing third. He had another motocross crash in August. He broke his right leg again. This made him miss his "home race" in San Marino.

Rossi returned in Aragón and finished fifth. He crashed out of the race in Japan. He got his final podium of the season in Australia, finishing second.

Rossi finished fifth in the championship with 208 points. This was his lowest position since 2012.

2018 Season

Before 2018, Rossi extended his contract with Yamaha until 2020. Rossi and his teammate struggled with their bike during pre-season tests.

Rossi started well with a third-place podium in Qatar. He finished 19th in Argentina after a collision with Marc Márquez. Rossi finished fourth and fifth in the next two races. But he got three third-place podiums in a row in France, Italy, and Catalunya. He got his only pole position of the season in Italy.

Rossi finished fifth in the Netherlands. He got his only second place of the season in Germany. He finished fourth and sixth in the Czech Republic and Austria.

The British Grand Prix was cancelled due to heavy rain. Rossi did not finish on the podium for five races in a row. He finished seventh in San Marino and eighth in Aragón. He was fourth in Thailand and Japan. He finished sixth in Australia.

Rossi had a good chance to win in Malaysia. He led the race but crashed with four laps to go. Márquez won the race. Rossi finished 19th. He crashed out of second place in Valencia.

Rossi finished third in the championship with 198 points. This was his first season without a win since 2012. It was his first winless season with the Factory Yamaha team.

2019 Season

Rossi and his teammate had mixed feelings about the 2019 Yamaha bike. Rossi said he was only "half-happy" with the test results.

At the first race in Qatar, Rossi started 14th but finished fifth. He rode a strong race in Argentina and finished second. He was second again in the Americas.

He finished sixth in Spain and fifth in France. Then, Rossi had three retirements in a row for the first time in his career. He crashed out in Italy. In Catalunya, he was involved in a crash caused by Jorge Lorenzo. In the Netherlands, Rossi crashed and took out another rider.

After these tough races, he finished eighth in Germany and sixth in the Czech Republic. He got three fourth-place finishes in a row in Austria, Great Britain, and San Marino. He finished eighth in Aragón and Thailand.

Rossi had another retirement in Japan. This was his fourth retirement of the season. He finished eighth in Australia, fourth in Malaysia, and eighth in Valencia.

Rossi finished seventh in the championship with 174 points. This was his lowest position since 2011. It was his second season without a win.

2020 Season

In October 2019, Rossi changed his crew chief to David Muñoz. Rossi's future with Yamaha was uncertain. He wanted to see how competitive he was. But the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the season. Yamaha chose another rider for 2021. Rossi said he was "99% certain" he would ride for the SIC Racing Team.

The 2020 Yamaha bike had improved a lot. Rossi said the bike had "a very good feeling."

The first race in Qatar was cancelled. The season started in Spain. Rossi retired with technical problems. He got his first podium since 2019 in Andalucia. He finished third. He finished fifth in the Czech Republic and Austria. He was ninth in Styria. He had three retirements in a row after that.

On 15 October 2020, he tested positive for COVID-19. This made him miss two races. He returned for the European GP but retired. He tested positive again but it was a false positive. He raced in the final two races.

Petronas Yamaha SRT (2021)

In September 2020, Rossi confirmed he would join Petronas Yamaha SRT for the 2021 season. His teammate was his VR46 Academy student Franco Morbidelli. This was Rossi's first time with a satellite team since 2001. He still got factory-supported equipment. He had five different teammates that season due to injuries.

Retirement from Motorcycle Racing

On 5 August 2021, Rossi announced he would retire from MotoGP after the 2021 season. His last race was the 2021 Valencian Community motorcycle Grand Prix. Many famous people congratulated him on his great career. His number 46 was retired in a special ceremony at the 2022 Italian motorcycle Grand Prix.

Sportscar Racing Career

During his MotoGP career, Rossi raced in some car events. He drove a Ferrari in the Gulf 12 Hours in 2019 and 2020. On 13 January 2022, it was announced that Rossi would race for Team WRT in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup in 2022. He would drive an Audi R8 LMS.

GT World Challenge Europe Racing

Team WRT (2022–Present)

2022 Season

In January 2022, Team WRT announced Rossi would join their team. He would race in the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS. Rossi started his professional car racing career with this team. He raced in both the Endurance and Sprint Cups. He drove an Audi R8 LMS with his famous #46. He was paired with Audi factory drivers Nico Müller and Frédéric Vervisch.

In his first race in Imola, Rossi finished 17th. He said he "enjoyed every moment." In the next race, he finished 13th and 8th. In the next six races, Rossi and his teammates finished in the top ten four times. Three of these were 5th place finishes. Rossi finished 21st in the standings.

2023 Season

Rossi continued with Team WRT in 2023. This time he drove a BMW M4 GT3. He was paired with BMW factory drivers Maxime Martin and Augusto Farfus. Rossi won his first race in the GT World Challenge in Misano. He finished 6th in the standings in his second full year.

2024 Season

Rossi continued with Team WRT in 2024. He won his second race in the series, again in Misano.

Rossi is also expected to race in the 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans. In the Endurance Cup, Rossi finished 9th with 34 points. In the Sprint Cup, he had 2 podiums and 1 win, finishing 8th with 27 points.

Road to Le Mans Series

Rossi raced in the 2023 Road to Le Mans with Team WRT. This was to prepare for his debut in the 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans. Rossi and his teammate won the second race in their class.

Intercontinental GT Challenge Series

In his first season in 2023, Rossi got 1 podium. He finished 13th in the standings with 38 points. In the next season, Rossi finished 17th with 14 points.

24H GT Series Racing

Rossi raced in the 24H Series in 2023. He teamed up with other drivers for Team WRT. They drove a BMW M4 GT3. In the first race in Dubai, Rossi and his teammates finished third.

World Endurance Championship Racing

2024 Season

Rossi also joined the World Endurance Championship. He was paired with Maxime Martin and Ahmad Al Harthy.

In the first race in Qatar, Rossi finished fourth in the LMGT3 class. This was his debut in the series.

In the second race in Imola, Rossi got his first podium. He finished second. It was a close race with his teammate's car.

In the third race in Spa-Francorchamps, Rossi's car had to retire. Another car crashed into his teammate.

At Le Mans, Rossi's car had bad luck. His teammate crashed due to slippery tires. The car was too damaged to continue.

In Brazil, Rossi's team finished fifth. In America, his car had hydraulic problems and retired near the end.

In Fuji, Japan, Rossi got his first World Endurance Championship podium. His team finished third in the LMGT3 class. Rossi drove the final lap and passed five cars.

In the final race in Bahrain, Rossi's team finished 14th.

Hypercar Testing

Rossi also tested a Hypercar. This was a BMW M Hybrid V8. He drove it after the last race in Bahrain. This was his first time driving such a powerful car.

24 Hours of Le Mans Debut

In 2024, Valentino Rossi made his debut at the 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans. His team started 12th in the LMGT3 class. Rossi and his team led the race for a while. But his teammate crashed the car. The car was too damaged, and they had to stop racing. This was a disappointing end to his debut.

Rivalries in Racing

Early Rivalries: Capirossi, Biaggi, and Gibernau

Loris Capirossi

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Rossi's main rival was fellow Italian Loris Capirossi. They often had close battles during races. But they always respected each other on and off the track. Their rivalry became less intense when Capirossi stopped battling for podiums.

Max Biaggi

At the start of his 500cc career, Max Biaggi was Rossi's main rival. The Italian press called Rossi, Capirossi, and Biaggi "the three musketeers." While Rossi and Capirossi were always friendly, the rivalry with Biaggi grew.

In 2001, at the Japanese Grand Prix, Biaggi seemed to try to push Rossi off the track. Later, Rossi passed Biaggi and made a gesture. Their rivalry was very intense. Two weeks later, Honda held a press conference. Rossi and Biaggi shook hands, and the rivalry calmed down.

The 2004 South African race was another key moment. Rossi had switched to Yamaha. Many thought Biaggi would win because Honda bikes were very strong. But Rossi won the race by a very small margin. Rossi called it "one of the best of his career."

Sete Gibernau

Rossi's closest rival in 2003 and 2004 was Sete Gibernau. They were friendly at first. But their relationship changed in 2004. This was especially after the "Qatar Incident." Rossi's team was penalized for cleaning his grid spot. Rossi believed Gibernau's team was involved in the appeal. Rossi later said Gibernau was "playing a dirty game."

The rivalry was very intense at the 2005 race in Jerez. Rossi and Gibernau battled for the lead. On the last lap, Rossi tried to pass Gibernau on the final corner. They made contact. Gibernau finished second, and Rossi won. The Spanish crowd booed Rossi. Rossi said his move was "hard" but that "motorbike races sometimes are like this."

Gibernau retired from racing after 2006. He never won another race after Qatar. Some people called this the "Qatar Curse."

Later Rivalries: Stoner and Lorenzo

Casey Stoner

Casey Stoner became a rival for Rossi when he joined Ducati in 2007. Rossi and Stoner often battled for wins. Stoner won the 2007 MotoGP World Championship.

Their rivalry became very intense at the 2008 United States GP. Rossi passed Stoner at the Corkscrew corner. Stoner later went off track. Rossi won the race. Stoner was upset and said he had "lost respect" for Rossi. Stoner later apologized for this comment.

The rivalry calmed down when Rossi won titles in 2008 and 2009. Stoner struggled with his bike.

When Rossi moved to Ducati and Stoner to Honda in 2011, tensions rose again. At the 2011 Spanish race, Rossi collided with Stoner. Stoner crashed out. Rossi apologized. Stoner told Rossi, "your ambition outweighs your talent." Stoner later apologized for this comment.

The rivalry ended when Stoner retired in 2012.

Jorge Lorenzo

In 2008, Jorge Lorenzo joined Rossi at Yamaha. Rossi won the 2008 title. In 2009, Rossi and Lorenzo had many close battles. Rossi won the championship again. He defeated Lorenzo in several tight races. The most memorable was in Catalunya. Rossi passed Lorenzo on the final corner to win.

In 2010, Lorenzo won the championship. Rossi had injuries that season. At the Japanese Grand Prix, Rossi and Lorenzo battled fiercely for third place. They made contact several times. Rossi won the battle.

After Rossi moved to Ducati in 2011, the rivalry cooled. Lorenzo stayed with Yamaha and won championships.

When Rossi returned to Yamaha in 2013, the rivalry started again. It became very intense in 2015. Rossi was close to winning his tenth title. But Lorenzo was catching up. At the Malaysian Grand Prix, Rossi and Márquez had a disagreement. This led to a penalty for Rossi. He had to start from the back of the grid in the final race in Valencia. Lorenzo won the race and the title by just five points. Rossi accused Márquez and Lorenzo of working together. He called it "a Spanish stitch-up."

The relationship between Rossi and Lorenzo became difficult. It eased when Lorenzo moved to Ducati in 2017. The rivalry ended when Lorenzo retired in 2019.

Recent Rivalry: Marc Márquez

In recent years, Rossi had an intense rivalry with Spanish rider Marc Márquez. Márquez joined MotoGP in 2013. At first, they had a good relationship. Márquez said Rossi was his childhood idol.

Their relationship changed during the 2015 season. At the Argentine Grand Prix, Márquez made contact with Rossi while battling for the lead. Márquez crashed out, and Rossi won. They both said it was a racing incident. A similar event happened at Assen. Márquez tried to pass Rossi on the final corner. Rossi went through the gravel and won.

Their relationship completely broke down after the Malaysian Grand Prix. Rossi accused Márquez of trying to slow him down to help Lorenzo. In the race, Rossi and Márquez had a heated battle. They collided, and Márquez crashed out. Rossi finished third. Rossi was penalized and had to start from the back of the grid in the final race. Lorenzo won the title. Rossi accused Márquez of helping Lorenzo.

Their relationship was difficult in 2016. But they shook hands in Barcelona to honor Luis Salom, a rider who died. However, tensions rose again two years later in Argentina. Márquez collided with Rossi, causing Rossi to fall. Rossi refused Márquez's apology. Rossi said Márquez "destroyed our sport" with his aggressive riding. He also said, "Marquez needs to get away from me and not look me in the face anymore."

Their relationship remained poor. Rossi refused to shake Márquez's hand in San Marino in 2018. But in 2019, they shook hands again before a podium ceremony. This showed that tensions had eased.

Famous Nicknames

Valentino Rossi has had many nicknames since he started racing. Early in his career, he was called "Rossifumi." This was because he admired Japanese rider Norifumi Abe. Abe had a great debut in the 500cc class. Rossi was 14 when he saw that race. It made him want to be a Grand Prix rider. So, "Rossifumi" was a tribute to Abe.

Another early nickname was "Valentinik." This name came from the Italian comic character Super Donald, or Paperinik. This superhero version of Donald Duck wears a mask and cape. He is funny and likeable. The nickname means "Super Valentino."

Since Rossi became very successful in MotoGP, "The Doctor" has been his main nickname. In Italy, "Doctor" is a sign of respect. One idea is that he got the name after earning a degree. Another idea, from his father, is that it's a respectful title. Rossi often jokes that "Rossi" is a common last name for doctors in Italy.

He has always raced with the number 46. This was his father's number when he won his first Grand Prix race in 1979. World Champions usually get the No. 1 sticker. But Rossi, like Barry Sheene, kept his number 46 throughout his career. He would wear the No. 1 on his racing suit shoulder as champion.

The text on his helmet visors says "The Tribe of the Chihuahua." This is the name of his group of friends. He also uses his favorite color, fluorescent yellow, in his racing gear. This has earned him the nickname "Highlighter Pen."

Many famous riders and commentators call him 'the GOAT' (Greatest of All Time).

Other Racing Activities

Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race

Besides MotoGP, Rossi also raced in the FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC). He competed in the Suzuka 8 Hours race in Japan. This is a very tough motorcycle race. He raced in 2000 with Colin Edwards but did not finish. In 2001, they teamed up again and won the title. Rossi became the first Italian rider to win this race.

Formula One Car Testing

Rossi tested a Ferrari Formula One car in 2006. He drove it at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia. On his second day, he was ninth fastest among 15 drivers. He was about one second slower than Michael Schumacher. Rossi was faster than some experienced F1 drivers. Schumacher said Rossi had great talent and could be competitive in F1.

In 2006, Rossi decided to stay in MotoGP. He said he would stay until his work on bikes was "finished." He signed new contracts with Yamaha.

In 2008, Rossi tested a Ferrari F2008 car. This was a gift from Ferrari to celebrate his eighth world title. He set good lap times. In 2010, Rossi said he hoped to move into rallying after motorcycle racing. He said he would be too old for F1 by then.

In December 2019, Rossi swapped rides with six-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton. Rossi drove a 2017 Mercedes AMG F1 W08 EQ Power+ car. Hamilton rode Rossi's Yamaha MotoGP bike.

Monza Rally Show

In 2018, Valentino Rossi won the Monza Rally Show for the seventh time. He drove a Ford Fiesta WRC car. He has won this rally four times in a row. He has titles from 2006, 2007, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. He has been racing in this rally since 1998.

Rally Driving

Rossi loves rallying. One of his heroes was WRC Champion Colin McRae. McRae taught Rossi how to drive a rally car. Rossi competed against McRae in 2005 and won.

His first official rally race was in 2002 at WRC Rally Great Britain. He crashed out early. In October 2006, Rossi entered Rally New Zealand. He finished 11th out of 39 drivers. In 2006, Rossi also won the Monza Rally Show. He beat the 2005 winner by 24 seconds.

Rossi decided to stay in MotoGP in 2007. He signed a new contract with Yamaha until 2010. He competed in the Rally GB in December 2008. He finished 12th.

Other Car Racing Events

In 2012, Rossi raced in the Blancpain Endurance Series. He drove a Ferrari 458 Italia GT3. He had two races that season.

In 2019, Rossi competed in the Gulf 12 Hour race. He drove a Ferrari 488 GT3. His co-drivers were his half-brother, Luca Marini, and Alessio Salucci. Rossi's team finished third overall and won their class. In January 2021, they competed again and won third place. In December 2023, Rossi finished second at the Gulf 12 Hours.

Rossi also loves motocross and flat track racing. He has won the 'La 100 km dei Campioni' flat track event many times. This event is held at his Motor Ranch every year.

Valentino Rossi has raced at the Bathurst 12 Hour endurance race in Australia. He finished 6th in 2023 and 5th in 2024.

Special Appearances

In 2009, Rossi visited the 2009 Isle of Man TT. He rode a YZF-R1 in a parade.

In 2015, after winning a MotoGP race, Valentino Rossi visited the Goodwood Festival of Speed. He wore a special yellow design to celebrate Yamaha Motor's 60th anniversary. He rode his YZR-M1 up the hill. He also drove other famous race cars.

Rossi took part in the 2024 WorldSBK pre-season test in Portugal. He rode a YZF-R1.

In June 2024, Valentino Rossi rode with other Monster Energy riders at the Silverstone Circuit. He was with many MotoGP and World Superbike riders. Rossi led the riders on the track.

In July 2024, Valentino Rossi rode Eddie Lawson's 1987 Yamaha YZR500 bike at Jerez. This was for a Yamaha Racing Heritage Club event.

Racing Academy and Team Ownership

VR46 Racing Academy

Rossi started a racing school called VR46 Racing Academy in 2014. It's in Tavullia, Italy. This academy trains young Italian riders. Rossi shares his experience and knowledge. The academy has an experienced team. They help with everything from training to contracts.

Master Camp Program

The Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Team started in 2016. It helps young racing talents.

• Training Camps: The project began with a five-day training program in Italy.
• VR46 Junior Team: In 2017, the project grew to include a junior team. This gave young riders racing experience in Europe.
• Moto2 World Championship: In 2022, the team joined the Moto2 World Championship.

The Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Team will end its partnership with Yamaha at the end of 2024.

Team Ownership

Rossi owns the junior-class team Sky Racing Team by VR46. It started in the Moto3 category in 2014. In 2020, Rossi's VR46 brand supported a bike in the MotoGP season for his half-brother, Luca Marini.

The VR46 Riders Academy has helped many riders succeed. Franco Morbidelli became the 2017 Moto2 world champion. Francesco Bagnaia became the 2018 Moto2 world champion. Bagnaia then won the 2022 MotoGP world champion title.

In 2020, the Sky Racing VR46 won the Moto2 teams championship.

Team Collaborations

Rossi also works with other teams to find young racers.

Team Bardahl VR46 Riders Academy

This team races in the CIV Italian Championships. They work with Bardahl. In 2021, the team raced in two Moto3 series as a wildcard. They use KTM bikes.

Yamaha VR46 MasterCamp Team

This team helps young riders. They work with Yamaha. They raced in the CEV Moto2 Championships. Starting in 2022, this team debuted in Moto2.

Avintia VR46 Riders Academy

Starting in 2022, the VR46 Racing Team also returned to Moto3. They work with Esponsorama Avintia. This team might place VR46 racers in their team.

RMU Moto VR46 Academy

This team is a partnership between VR46 Riders Academy and RMU Moto. They race in the CIV PreMoto3. They feature young riders trained at the VR46 Riders Academy.

Helmets and Racing Gear

Rossi has used many different helmet designs. Most have a Sun & Moon design. Rossi says this shows the two sides of his personality. His helmets are made by AGV. He often works with Aldo Drudi to design special helmets for races in Italy.

Since he started racing, Rossi has worn racing suits from Dainese. He also uses Alpinestars racing boots.

In March 2022, Rossi announced a partnership with Racing Force Group. He will use OMP race suits and Bell helmets for his car racing career.

Pre-Race Habits

Rossi has special habits he does before races. On race day, he always watches the start of the Moto3 race. He wants to see how long the starting lights stay on. Before riding, he stops about two meters from his bike. He bends over and touches his boots. Then, he crouches down and holds the right foot-peg of his bike. He bows his head. Rossi said this is a moment to focus and "talk" to his bike. He also adjusts his racing suit by standing on the foot-pegs while riding down the pit lane. He always puts on one specific boot and glove first. He also gets on and off his bike the same way every time.

Personal Life

Rossi moved from his family home in Tavullia to Milan. Then he lived in London, England, while with Honda. He owns a villa in Ibiza. He later moved back to Italy to be near his family. Rossi is a Catholic.

His hometown, Tavullia, is in the Marche region of Italy. But Rossi also identifies with the Romagna region.

Rossi has a half-brother named Luca Marini. Luca was runner-up in the 2020 Moto2 season. In 2021, Marini moved to MotoGP. He later joined Rossi's VR46 Racing Team in 2022.

On 4 March 2022, Rossi had a daughter with his partner, Francesca Sofia Novello. In July 2024, Rossi announced his partner was expecting their second child.

Businesses

Besides his racing team, Rossi has other businesses. These include merchandise and clothing under the VR46 brand. In Tavullia, he also has businesses called Tavullia 46. These include pizza restaurants and ice cream shops.

Video Game

In November 2015, a video game called Valentino Rossi: The Game was announced. Rossi officially supported the game. It was released on 16 June 2016. It was also the official video game of the 2016 MotoGP season.

Other Hobbies

Rossi supports the Italian football club Inter Milan. After he won world titles in 2008 and 2009, Inter congratulated him. At the 2015 Argentine Grand Prix, Rossi wore a replica Diego Maradona football shirt to honor Maradona. Maradona congratulated him on Facebook.

Career Statistics and Records

See also

In Spanish: Valentino Rossi para niños