Valentino Rossi (born 16 February, 1979, Urbino, Italy) is a multiple motorcycle MotoGP world champion.
Following his father, Graziano Rossi, Rossi started racing in Grand Prix’s in 1996 for Aprilia in the 125cc category and won his first world championship the following year. From there he moved up to the 250cc category, again with Aprilia, and he won the championship in 1999.
Rossi then moved to the 500cc class, to win in 2001 on a two-stroke Honda NSR. He repeated the success in the new MotoGP class in 2002 and 2003 riding a four-stroke Honda RC211V. For 2004, Rossi moved to Yamaha, for whom he then proceeded to win the MotoGP title in his first year with them. He is only the second rider to win consecutive world titles for different manufacturers.
Rossi lives in London.
He is famous for using the Number 46 only, the racing number of his father, his outgoing behaviour and his intense rivalry with fellow MotoGP rider, Max Biaggi .
Championships
1997 - World champion, 125 cc class.
1999 - World champion, 250 cc class.
2001 - World champion, 500 cc class.
2002 - World champion, MotoGP class.
2003 - World champion, MotoGP class.
2004 - World champion, MotoGP class.