Every once in a while, we encounter a giant amongst men.
In the world of sport, they carry a nation’s hopes on their backs.
We call them greats, legends and perhaps even the greatest.
They enthral us with their talent, and better still,
some can conjure the ability to match their sporting prowess with charm and charisma.
These are the special breeds and in motorcycling, we’ve been blessed with some of the best.
I think I was the one that coined him the G.O.A.T, a long time ago, the greatest of all time.
Gifted, passionate and charismatic.
He came, he conquered and he kicked ass
He’s able to combine that fun factor with the ultimate performance.
For every record they achieve, there will always be another challenge.
In the case of MotoGP
and the world of motorcycling, there is a rider who comes close to being called the greatest,
his name: Valentino Rossi.
This is the story of Valentino Rossi,
told by those who know him best, and the man himself.
This story takes us from the race track
back to the heart of his world in Tavullia, to get the insight on what makes this man worthy
of the title The Greatest Of All Time.
Born and raised in the quiet unassuming town of Tavullia, up in the hills above the Adriatic coast of Italy,
he arrived in this world the son of a fantastic motorsports talent
Graziano Rossi.
I always played with Graziano, with my father, with the motorcycle, because he know that way.
I think it is hard for a child who, who plays
not to become passionate with such a magical game like bikes.
Since he was a little child we knew that he was talented.
I was one of the first in Tavullia saying “this guy will make his way”
I start to have the idea to become a real rider when we arrived at the world championship in ’96.
Inspired by his father, the young Rossi began his moto grand prix career in 1996 after experiencing
success in the Italian Championship.
Never short of confidence, his taste for victory was matched only by his unwavering quest to have fun.
He has that charismatic, sort of Peter Pan, appeal.
A Champion that is out of any imagination
He loves motorcycling, he loves to ride the bike, and I think that he's able to,
he's able to transmit that true passion and desire for what he does, and hes able then to communicate
that to other people and I think that’s what people really appreciate.
What has followed in over 20 years of racing at the highest level of the sport has combined
exceptional talent with the mastery of entertainment.
The post that I enjoyed the most was in ’99 in Jerez when I go to the toilet with the 250 (cc),
but also Mugello 2002 when the police stop me and make me the laser, the picture,
for the..”la multa” (the fine).
Whether or not you know him for his racing prowess or crazed celebrations, the man know
as The Doctor has become an institution within motorcycling, and the legend of Valentino Rossi
now transcends the world of sport.
Who is Valentino Rossi? A friend,
fast as hell on a motorcycle and I think genuinely, just a really good guy.
What I always say to people who don’t know Vale personally “ you see what he is doing as a rider.
But I can promise you that the man is even better”.
You see everything, honestly from his ritual to getting on the bike, to just how he is
on camera, off camera, he doesn’t have two acts.
What you see on TV, that is, that is Valentino.
We, I at least, always see him as a gift. When he wins, when he loses, he is always a gift.
He is a personality, one of the most important in the world,
but he is one of the closest to people no? Compared to all the others.
He’s got balls!
No matter what machinery is introduced to Valentino, his desire to ring its neck and
push its ability to conform to his lust for speed will always shine through.
From his infamous and highly competitive Formula One test,
to the multiple wins he has chalked up at Monza Rally,
Rossi has proved he is master of all things fast.
In fact, stepping into a Nascar stock car for the first time,
he was totally at ease with the ferocious beast
clocking in laps that were literally within tenths of Nascar Champion Kyle Busch himself.
Caged or not, four wheel or two,
Vale only knows one pace and that’s flat out.
The highest number of wins in the modern MotoGP era,
and he has the most podium appearances in the history of the sport.
Kenny Junior said to me, he goes “isn’t weird when you get behind Valentino he just
always seems to be pulling meters on you. Like you can’t make up five meters and then
him pull six. He’s just constantly pulling way from you”.
It was true, he was pretty unbeatable.
I don’t know how many years he’s been in the sport, maybe this is his 20th year perhaps…
that’s amazing.
To still have that drive, and that push, to be riding as good as he is…very impressive.
For all his worldwide acclaim, from fans and fellow sporting icons alike,
Valentino remains fiercely loyal to the inner circle of trusted friends who have supported him throughout his journey.
Retreating back to Tavullia after each race weekend,
the bond he has with his home town and the people he grew up with is key to understanding the man and his legend.
To know Valentino, you need to listen to his inner circle.
Valentino Rossi is the classic hard guy. He always pushes the limit in everything he does.
I really do think he is an extra-terrestrial, really. I mean something out of the ordinary world.
Well you imagine if you put Tiger Woods together with Michael Jordan, together with Roger Federer
and put that combination on a motorcycle.
Over the course of the next four episodes, we will take you right into the heart of Valentino’s world
and hear plenty from Vale himself. But where better to celebrate the Rossi legend
then in Mugello, home of some of his greatest moments as a MotoGP rider,
which is where we will pick up the story next time.