MotoGp: Valentino Rossi 2008 MotoGP World Championship
Valentino Rossi´s MotoGP World Championship season was not a matter of a straightforward title victory for the Italian. Follow his road to the 2008 crown in the accompanying video, reviewing the eight steps to the sixth premier class crown.
The action starts in preseason with the Fiat Yamaha sponsor rider´s first test with Bridgestone tyres, and continues up until Sunday´s A-Style Grand Prix of Japan, taking in plenty of thrills and spills along the way.
`Scusate il ritardo´ (Eng: Sorry for the delay) was the phrase emblazoned on Valentino Rossi´s celebration t-shirt in Motegi, referencing the two-year wait to regain the MotoGP World Championship. There was no waiting around for the Italian in Motegi, as he clinched the title on the first available opportunity afforded by his premier class rivals.
The competition has been fierce for Rossi in 2008, as he emphasised after his 70th race victory and confirmation of a sixth MotoGP crown. The Fiat Yamaha rider –the only man to win 500cc, 990cc and 800cc titles- put the most recent triumph at the head of the accolades taken in his illustrious career, alongside his maiden championship win for the Japanese factory.
`For sure it is a great achievement, maybe at the level of 2004 when I first won the title with Yamaha,´ said Rossi after beating rivals Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa to the win at the A-Style Grand Prix of Japan.
`The battle was very hard and the season was very long, so I´m very happy. We worked very hard with Yamaha and with all the team to be able to put in good speed at every track, under every condition. The race today was a great battle, like it has been all season with Stoner and Pedrosa.´
Rossi´s race win –his first on a four-stroke machine at Motegi- came with the customary Fan Club-assisted celebration, this time involving a desk, a camera-pen and a commemorative helmet. For the new MotoGP World Champion, sharing the glory only added to the moment.
`This occasion is always an excuse to have a laugh and a bit of a party with my friends,´ beamed Rossi after his jovial act of revery, as always remaining elusive as to the meaning behind the showmanship.
The 2008 title in the bag, there will be little time to soak up the glory for the new champion. Preparations for the defence of the crown begins on Monday, with the first test of the 2009 Yamaha M1 scheduled at Twin Ring Motegi. Rossi will be in attendance, but don´t expect him to be the first man to arrive at the track…
`Tomorrow I have a test, but I am fighting to make it start in the afternoon!´ concluded the 29 year-old, who could be permitted a party and a lie-in after the two-year wait for the title.
From: http://www.motogp.com
Valentino Rossi Manager a Le Mans: 90 Victories in MotoGp!
Even Angel Nieto paid tribute to Valentino Rossi after the Italian driver equaled his Grand Prix win tally of 90 victories in MotoGp.
LE MANS (France), 18 May 2008 - The fight for the lead in the motogp world championship has just become much more interesting. If we look at the winners of the first five races of the season, this is one of the most even championships in the last few years, or at least the most uncertain one: Stoner, Lorenzo, Pedrosa and two races won by Rossi.
MotoGp Standings - Rossi in Yamaha now leads the standings with 97 points, followed by Lorenzo and Pedrosa with 94, and Stoner in fourth place with 56. “I haven’t been the leader since last year’s race in Jerez de la Frontera. Stoner? He was fast today and he could have been a contender for the podium. I was a bit faster, but I’m sad to see him break down. The championship is still very long and we are all very close in the standings. It’s too soon to say Stoner is out of the title race.”
Plus, Valentino Rossi, a great manager of himself, is equaling Angel Nieto 90 Grand Prix victories milestone. The MotoGP Legend was even included in the celebrations in Le Mans.
Andrea Dovizioso, Team JiR Honda MotoGp get Class Editori Sponsorship
MEDIA PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN CLASS EDITORI AND JIR RENEWED FOR 2008
Class Editori and Team JiR, Gianluca Montiron’s Honda team taking part in the MotoGP championship, have renewed their media partnership for the fifth consecutive year. The Sponsorship agreement, valid for the 2008 season, has been signed with the consulting services of RTR Sports Marketing, a leading agency in the sports sponsorship sector.
>> Read the full article about Andrea Dovizioso Honda MotoGp >>
Piquadro Sponsor The Fiat Yamaha Moto GP Team
Piquadro, the well-known brand of travel and business accessories, has made its entrance into the world of motor racing official.
The company, based in Emilia Romagna, has signed a deal with the Fiat Yamaha Team to supply Piquadro brand bags, thus becoming Premium Supplier to the Yamaha Factory Racing team for the MotoGP 2008 season.
The partnership carries the signature of RTR, the sports marketing agency headed by Riccardo Tafà, who had this to say on the subject: “Design and technology are the essential principles underpinning the philosophy of Piquadro, and it is precisely out of this that the idea of bringing the company together with the Fiat Yamaha Team sprang: not only does the team share these values but, thanks to the joint work of its technical engineering staff and riders, it brings them to the track every day under the eyes of millions of people.”
>> read the Fiat Yamaha Team article >>