Wayne Rainey described an out-of-body experience when he was so totally in the zone on his race bike that his timing and his lines were perfect. Rossi has talked about the same type of zone, and referred to it as making a “poem†on his motorcycle.Â
By hiring Valentino, Ducati not only gains, perhaps, the greatest rider of all time, but much more. The timing, as I will discuss, is also perfect, and Rossi can leave Ducati with a valuable legacy a few years down the road.
Nicky Hayden is an important part of this story. Sure, Nicky has often struggled since engine displacement in MotoGP was limited to 800cc a few years ago. He loved the power and the handling characteristics that went along with the 990cc motors, and it was during that era that he won his World title … Details
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Ducati has finally confirmed that Valentino Rossi will join its lineup next season, the seven-time MotoGP champion having signed a two-year deal with the Italian squad.
Rossi’s move to Ducati has been regarded as near certain by MotoGP insiders for several months, and this afternoon at Brno Yamaha issued a statement announcing that it was parting company with the Italian legend after seven years together, during which Rossi has won four MotoGP championships and 45 grands prix so far.
Rumors of a Rossi-Ducati deal first surfaced last autumn … Details
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 Valentino Rossi is set to return to MotoGP at the Sachsenring this weekend after being given the all-clear by his doctors.
The reigning MotoGP champion has already missed four races due to his broken leg, but completed 46 laps of Brno on a Yamaha Superbike on Monday. Yamaha is prepared for Rossi’s return, although he still needs to be signed off by the event’s chief medical officer on Thursday.
“Compared to Misano I have …Â Details
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