I was lucky. My father raced bikes. He gave me the passion very early. I had my first bike when I was three or four years old.
VALENTINO ROSSII was lucky. My father raced bikes. He gave me the passion very early. I had my first bike when I was three or four years old.
VALENTINO ROSSITo be a great motorbike racer, the most important thing is passion for the bike.
VALENTINO ROSSIGiving yourself threads doesn’t mean you don’t believe in yourself in my opinion.
VALENTINO ROSSII am able to ride the bike and think clearly about strategy and tyres. I also have positive thinking. I am very constructively critical.
VALENTINO ROSSII’m very happy because I won a lot. I’ve won races and lived in a world that just gave me joy, so I remember it very positively.
VALENTINO ROSSIThe speed is something dangerous but very exciting.
VALENTINO ROSSIThe work that we do during the winter is very important; we have a new bike and it’s important to develop it during this time.
VALENTINO ROSSII would have probably stolen cars – it would have given me the same adrenaline rush as racing.
VALENTINO ROSSIThe tragic incident of Luis Salom reminds us that our sport, our passion, is dangerous. We know it but, in a way, we don’t think about it.
VALENTINO ROSSIHow do Ferrari know what I’m doing next year when I don’t know what I’m doing next week?
VALENTINO ROSSII try to have a different relationship with the bike. I don’t give it a name, but I always speak with it. I don’t know if the other riders do the same. This is not only a piece of metal – there is a soul. The bike talks back too. But not with a voice, with the components.
VALENTINO ROSSII have designs I like applied to my helmet, motorcycle, riding suits, gloves,and boots. I have a designer friend of mine put the designs on them for me. I think a livery on the helmet is significant in expressing a rider’s personality.
VALENTINO ROSSIOur sport is dangerous. We risk the life out there, so we need to stay calm and focused and leave all the rest out.
VALENTINO ROSSII’m lucky because I don’t feel too much pressure – it’s only in the last hour before the race, and even then it’s good, positive pressure.
VALENTINO ROSSIMaybe if Graziano make another work or another sport I wouldn’t have had this passion to be a rider.
VALENTINO ROSSIWe have the 2004 M1 here for reference, which is useful. It worked well here last year; we won the race and always did fast lap times so it will be interesting to compare it to the new bike and it will help us to understand which parts have improved.
VALENTINO ROSSI