26 / 31
Show Time
27
by Primož Jurman photography Bor Dobrin, Yamaha, Luka Kompare
Valentino was born with motorcycles in his blood. His father Graziano was a petrolhead and a rather successful world-calibre rider at the end of the 70s and early 80s. A quick check shows him winning his first race in the 250cc class in 1979 in what was then Yugoslavia. And, as chance would have it, Igor Akrapovič also took part in that race, but suffered a fall and an injury. Another coincidence: Valentino, the future world champion, was born in the same year in Tavullia, a small village close to Rimini and the Adriatic coast. The bond between Akrapovič and Rossi was beginning to form.
Racing Childhood -
26
Welcome Back,
Valentino! The 2013 MotoGP season saw the return of nine-time world c h a mp i o n V a l e n t i n o R o s s i t o t h e Y a m a h a f a c t o r y t e a m . B u t i t w o n ’ t b e a l l s m o o t h s a i l i n g f o r R o s s i . H i s t e a mm a t e J o r g e Lorenzo won the title in 2012. This means that Yamaha will be fielding a dream team at this year’s MotoGP. Two legends: A n u n c o mp r o m i s i n g Sp a n i a r d a n d a c h a r i s m a t i c It a l i a n , w h o set new milestones in his 17-year career in motorcycle road r a c i n g a n d w h o s e p e r s o n a l i ty h a s m a d e h i m a n o bj e c t o f w o r ship around the world.
Valentino’s childhood smelled of petrol. He cheered for his dad until 1982, when Graziano finished his career. But the boy’s emerging talent was soon recognized, as he began racing on gokarts and later minimoto motorcycles. A minimoto regional level victory at the tender age of 13 was proof of his skills. It was completely logical that he would continue in the junior sections, becoming the Italian champion in Sport Production, and the Italian champion in the 125cc class in 1994. After finishing third in the European championships in the same class, it was abundantly clear that he had overgrown local and European competitions. The time had come to break onto the world scene.