Kunal Ghate writes about Valentino Rossi's 100th Premier class victory and also sums up his fascinating career till date. Read on.
There is no other way of saying, at the last weeks Dutch GP, after starting his career in the 125cc class in the year 1996, Valentino Rossi claimed his 100th victory in MotoGP!!! Something that only Giacomo Agostini has ever done in motogp with 122 wins.
After the most sensational win at Catalunya and possibly the most thrilling race in history of motogp, the Italian star has done it again this time around, silencing all his critics around the world and especially the ones in Italy.
Qualifying at pole, a "real pole" this time, unlike the one in Japan where torrential rain had left the officials with no option but to consider friday practice timings as qualifying, giving Rossi a wild card entry to the pole position. This time though, clear skies had ensured no room for such drama.
At the start, as usual 'The Launch Master' Dani Pedrosa leaped ahead of everyone into turn one. Its amazing to see him do this race after race, as if he is sitting on a far more powerful bike than others. The truth is, the Dani's body frame and weight allows near perfect weight distribution on the two wheels, but the bike fails to match what the Yamaha's and Ducati's can offer the others.
In no time, Rossi who was closely following Dani made his move, and after that it was a smooth sail. Jorge Lorenzo, Rossi's rival teammate suffered a bad start leaving him with more than 1.6 seconds behind Rossi, believe me thats a lot on the motogp bikes to cover, especially if Rossi is the one who you are chasing.
Unfortunately Dani Pedrosa crashed out of the race, so did his teammate Dovizioso, at the same turn. Now thats something that must have left the Japanese Honda engineers scratch their heads on the bike behaviour with the new chassis.
That left Jorge to chase Rossi, who was being chased by Stoner, rather followed by Stoner. Stoner had not been keeping well, suffering from stomach cramps for two consecutive races now, he calls it a mystery disease.
So, as Jorge eliminated his chances with a bad start, and Stoner playing it easy thanks to his stomach cramps, Rossi was clear to engage and just sailed past the finish line. Definitely wasn't as tough as Catalunya for #46, but for sure was the sweetest victory ever and what a journey it has been for him.
After the most sensational win at Catalunya and possibly the most thrilling race in history of motogp, the Italian star has done it again this time around, silencing all his critics around the world and especially the ones in Italy.
Qualifying at pole, a "real pole" this time, unlike the one in Japan where torrential rain had left the officials with no option but to consider friday practice timings as qualifying, giving Rossi a wild card entry to the pole position. This time though, clear skies had ensured no room for such drama.
At the start, as usual 'The Launch Master' Dani Pedrosa leaped ahead of everyone into turn one. Its amazing to see him do this race after race, as if he is sitting on a far more powerful bike than others. The truth is, the Dani's body frame and weight allows near perfect weight distribution on the two wheels, but the bike fails to match what the Yamaha's and Ducati's can offer the others.
In no time, Rossi who was closely following Dani made his move, and after that it was a smooth sail. Jorge Lorenzo, Rossi's rival teammate suffered a bad start leaving him with more than 1.6 seconds behind Rossi, believe me thats a lot on the motogp bikes to cover, especially if Rossi is the one who you are chasing.
Unfortunately Dani Pedrosa crashed out of the race, so did his teammate Dovizioso, at the same turn. Now thats something that must have left the Japanese Honda engineers scratch their heads on the bike behaviour with the new chassis.
That left Jorge to chase Rossi, who was being chased by Stoner, rather followed by Stoner. Stoner had not been keeping well, suffering from stomach cramps for two consecutive races now, he calls it a mystery disease.
So, as Jorge eliminated his chances with a bad start, and Stoner playing it easy thanks to his stomach cramps, Rossi was clear to engage and just sailed past the finish line. Definitely wasn't as tough as Catalunya for #46, but for sure was the sweetest victory ever and what a journey it has been for him.
Finishing is style as ever, waving the white flag with number 100 on it at the podium. The man deserves all the credit one can manage to give. Right from the 125cc days to the 250cc & 500cc & 1000cc class, and now the 800cc class Rossi is the only rider to have won 8 championships in ones career spanning six different motorcycles, winning at 27 different circuits with most wins at Mugello and Catalunya @ 9 each, his 41 wins come riding the Yamaha M1 is more than any other rider & 74 wins in premier class [500cc/990cc/800cc] is more than anyone else in the 61 years of history of this motorsport!
I cant put it in words any more, following facts speak for themselves:
1996: Rossi started his career in motogp with the Aprilias factory team, riding their Aprilia RS125 bike. He won just one race, scored 111 points and was placed 9th in the season end.
1997: Still racing the Aprilia RS125, but this time Rossi wins 11 out of 15 races, a record still not beaten and won the championship with 321 points!
1998: Moves to the Aprilia 250cc team, wins 5 out of 14 races, placed 2nd in championship.
1999: Wins 9 out of 16 races on his Aprilia RS250 bike and wins his 2nd championship.
2000: Rossi moves to premier class, joins Nastro Azzuro Honda to ride their Honda NSR500. Displays a great performance and wins 2 out of 16 races, finishes 2nd in championship.
2001: Still riding the same bike, kills the competition by winning 11 out of 16 races and winning the championship with 325 points!
2002: No more 2-stroke engines, Rossi moves up the ladder to join the factory team Honda-HRC, with the technical marvel RC211V, Rossi claims 11 of 16 races and wins the championship with 355 points!
2003: History repeats, Rossi wins 9 races of 16 and again claims championship with 357 points, the series of wins just made him stronger.
2004: After being criticised to have been winning because of technical superiority of Honda, Rossi moves to Yamaha, a very bold move considering that Honda actually was the best bike at that time with their revolutionary V5 engine. Guess what, wins 9 of 16 races and becomes champion with 304 points!
2005: Wins 11 of 17 races and claims championship with 367 points!
2006: The fall of the hero, American rider and former Honda teammate Nicky Hayden wins the championship, Rossi scored 247 points and lost to Nicky in the last race of the season, due to a stupid crash.
2007: The year Stoner proved he was championship material and could handle the Ducati beast. Rossi finished 3rd in championship with 241 points.
2008: Rossi makes a comeback, switching the Bridgestone tyres this year. Score 373 points and wins the championship much before the end of season.
2009: Has won 3 races till now, leading the pack with 131 points.
Giacomo Agostini's 122 wins, a number thats very much achievable for Valentino Rossi considering his pace and no sign of aging though being 30 years old. Who knows maybe he will switch to the Italian team Ducati and prove his might once again.
Talking about his age, I have been praising Jorge Lorenzo in my last few articles and questioning Rossi's abilities. Statements which have left me with not so friendly responses from fellow Rossi fans. Well, all the facts I just quoted should clear any doubts about the man's abilities, though i still maintain that jorge Lorenzo is the toughest competition Rossi has ever faced and will ever face!!!
But however exciting this championship is due to Jorge competing with Rossi, and whatever the final result may be, Valentino Rossi will always be The God of motogp for me! He is a living legend just like Michael Schumacher and I am loving every single second of his glory!!!
I cant put it in words any more, following facts speak for themselves:
1996: Rossi started his career in motogp with the Aprilias factory team, riding their Aprilia RS125 bike. He won just one race, scored 111 points and was placed 9th in the season end.
1997: Still racing the Aprilia RS125, but this time Rossi wins 11 out of 15 races, a record still not beaten and won the championship with 321 points!
1998: Moves to the Aprilia 250cc team, wins 5 out of 14 races, placed 2nd in championship.
1999: Wins 9 out of 16 races on his Aprilia RS250 bike and wins his 2nd championship.
2000: Rossi moves to premier class, joins Nastro Azzuro Honda to ride their Honda NSR500. Displays a great performance and wins 2 out of 16 races, finishes 2nd in championship.
2001: Still riding the same bike, kills the competition by winning 11 out of 16 races and winning the championship with 325 points!
2002: No more 2-stroke engines, Rossi moves up the ladder to join the factory team Honda-HRC, with the technical marvel RC211V, Rossi claims 11 of 16 races and wins the championship with 355 points!
2003: History repeats, Rossi wins 9 races of 16 and again claims championship with 357 points, the series of wins just made him stronger.
2004: After being criticised to have been winning because of technical superiority of Honda, Rossi moves to Yamaha, a very bold move considering that Honda actually was the best bike at that time with their revolutionary V5 engine. Guess what, wins 9 of 16 races and becomes champion with 304 points!
2005: Wins 11 of 17 races and claims championship with 367 points!
2006: The fall of the hero, American rider and former Honda teammate Nicky Hayden wins the championship, Rossi scored 247 points and lost to Nicky in the last race of the season, due to a stupid crash.
2007: The year Stoner proved he was championship material and could handle the Ducati beast. Rossi finished 3rd in championship with 241 points.
2008: Rossi makes a comeback, switching the Bridgestone tyres this year. Score 373 points and wins the championship much before the end of season.
2009: Has won 3 races till now, leading the pack with 131 points.
Giacomo Agostini's 122 wins, a number thats very much achievable for Valentino Rossi considering his pace and no sign of aging though being 30 years old. Who knows maybe he will switch to the Italian team Ducati and prove his might once again.
Talking about his age, I have been praising Jorge Lorenzo in my last few articles and questioning Rossi's abilities. Statements which have left me with not so friendly responses from fellow Rossi fans. Well, all the facts I just quoted should clear any doubts about the man's abilities, though i still maintain that jorge Lorenzo is the toughest competition Rossi has ever faced and will ever face!!!
But however exciting this championship is due to Jorge competing with Rossi, and whatever the final result may be, Valentino Rossi will always be The God of motogp for me! He is a living legend just like Michael Schumacher and I am loving every single second of his glory!!!
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