Tales of Valentino
Deeper than ever before into the detail of The Doctor’s career, from raging on-track rivalries to battling his own personal demons. It's not a ‘best of’, nor a biography of a World Champion, but an exercise in pulling back the curtain on some of Rossi’s most well-known moments, shedding light on the background and context behind them all, revealing little-known or so far untold vignettes from the career of a legend oft-imitated, but rarely bettered. Based on the testimony of those who know him best, and with observations from those who competed against him on track, this feature delicately pulls together more than 30 exclusive interviews from all the main players, revealing hitherto unknown tales of an Italian maestro who re-wrote the history books one story at a time.
Episodes
Every story has a beginning, and this is Valentino Rossi’s. Before he became a nine-time World Champion and a name recognized around the world, he was just a 16-year-old rider scrapping it out in the 125cc class. It was the first of 115 wins.
Boasting numerous iconic celebrations, few can rival that in the aftermath of his victory at Circuit de Barcelona – Montmelo in 1998. A running joke that got out of hand, learn the full story behind Polleria Osvaldo.
As the 500cc era came to a close, tempers reached boiling point between Rossi and another of his infamous on-track rivals; Max Biaggi. The two reflect on what was a battle for the ages in the third episode of the series.
Having won three titles on the trot with the all-conquering Honda, The Doctor and the RC211V were an unbeatable combination. Then, in 2004, he made the move to an underperforming and uninspiring Yamaha. And so, began a 16-year love affair.
A season of high-drama came down to a final round showdown in Valencia. Rossi was hunting for a sixth consecutive title and held an 11 point advantage over Nicky Hayden. It couldn’t go wrong, could it?
The Corkscrew set the scene for a battle between Rossi and Ducati’s Casey Stoner, with one of the most memorable overtakes in the history of the sport helping this one become an instant classic.
Tempers frayed once again as a young upstart by the name of Jorge Lorenzo set out to upset the natural pecking order at Yamaha and MotoGP™. The protagonists tell their side of the story.
It’s when times are tough you really learn who you are and the strength you have. After a horror injury, Rossi was left battling in his own inner demons as he searched for a way back to the bike.
The flair that Rossi had on track was often represented on his helmets too. Meet the genius behind his most famous designs and how his most famous lid design came to be.
