jr
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Registered: 20th May 02
Location: Kent
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Valentino Rossi has had numerous nicknames during his racing career. His first prominent nickname was "Rossifumi." Rossi explained the etymology of this nickname as a reference and tribute to fellow rider Norifumi Abe.
His next nickname appeared some time around his days racing in the 250 cc World Championship. The nickname "Valentinik" was a reference to the Italian Donald Duck superhero, "Paperinik."
Since his dominance in 500 cc and MotoGP, Rossi has used the nickname "The Doctor." This has been attributed to his "cold and clinical dismantling of his opponents" as well as his cool and calm composure in racing compared to his frenetic days in 125 cc and 250 cc where his performance was erratic and dangerous, resulting in numerous crashes. There are two theories as to why Rossi is entitled "The Doctor", one is Rossi adopted the nickname upon having earned a degree, which in Italy entitles one to use the title "Doctor". Another, as spoken by Graziano himself, "The Doctor because, I don't think there is a particular reason, but it's beautiful, and is important, The Doctor. And in Italy, The Doctor is a name you give to someone for respect, it's very important, The Doctor... important". Although Valentino often jokes that the name arrived because in Italy, Rossi is a very common surname for Doctors. These days Rossi rarely crashes and in fact holds the record for the longest streak of consecutive podiums. From September 8, 2002 to April 18, 2004, he stood on the podium at the end of all 23 races including every race in 2003.
He has always raced with the number #46 in his motorcycle grand prix career. Rossi has stated that the original inspiration for this choice of number was the Japanese "wild card" racer Norifumi Abe whom he saw on television speeding past much more seasoned riders in a wet race. He later found out that it was the number his father had raced with in the first of his 3 grand prix career wins, in 1979, in Yugoslavia, on a 250c Morbidelli. Typically, a World Championship winner (and also runner-up and third place) is awarded the #1 sticker for the next season. However, in a homage to Barry Sheene (who was the first rider of the modern era to keep the same number), Rossi has stayed with the now-famous #46 throughout his career. The text on his helmet refers to the name of his group of friends: "The Tribe of the Chihuahua", and the letters WLF on his leathers stand for "Viva La Figa", Italian for "Hurray the Pussy". He has so far escaped any sanctions or ultimatums that he take the letters off because of the "W" for the first letter. Readily apparent is the "W" standing for the two "V"s in "ViVa", and equally obvious is his success at escaping any disciplinary action from the FIM or Dorna for having the letters so brazenly on the front neck of his leathers. He traditionally also incorporates his favorite color (fluorescent yellow) into his leather designs. Up until the 2007 season, Rossi wore the #1 reserved for the reigning World Champion on the shoulder of his racing leathers.
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Russ
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Registered: 14th Mar 04
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best thing about him, he left honda, nobody leaves honda. he beat honda on a fucking yamaha  in his first season by a fucking mile tru legend of the sport. he might not have the fastest bike, but there is nobdy on the planet better at going round the corners
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Russ
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Registered: 14th Mar 04
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have you read his book jr?
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Lawrah
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Registered: 25th Dec 04
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My all time fav rider is Mr Foggerty, and hes one ugly cunt.
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jr
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Registered: 20th May 02
Location: Kent
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quote:
Originally posted by Russ
best thing about him, he left honda, nobody leaves honda. he beat honda on a fucking yamaha in his first season by a fucking mile tru legend of the sport. he might not have the fastest bike, but there is nobdy on the planet better at going round the corners
thats what me and the others were explaining to svm as well
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jr
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Registered: 20th May 02
Location: Kent
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quote:
Originally posted by Russ
have you read his book jr?
which one, havent read his own one, which is what if i never tried or something
read all the ones about him
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SVM 286
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Registered: 13th Feb 05
Location: pain
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He sounds like quite the enigma.
I think I hate him already.
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jr
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Registered: 20th May 02
Location: Kent
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quote:
Originally posted by Lawrah
My all time fav rider is Mr Foggerty, and hes one ugly cunt.
good rider, but yes
mine are rossi, and chris walker
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Steve X16XE
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Registered: 31st Dec 06
Location: Barnsley, South Yorkshire
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Carl Foggerty, i remember him. That was a few years ago though, wasn't it?
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Lawrah
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Registered: 25th Dec 04
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yeah long time retired,best eyes ever.
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Steve X16XE
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Registered: 31st Dec 06
Location: Barnsley, South Yorkshire
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Hmmm, i don't remember them bits for some strange reason 
But yeah, he was a very good rider.
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SVM 286
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Registered: 13th Feb 05
Location: pain
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Is he?  Shows how often I watch bike racing.
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Paul_J
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Registered: 6th Jun 02
Location: London
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Shocking  how could you not know Rossi is?
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SVM 286
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Registered: 13th Feb 05
Location: pain
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I am not Italian and don't watch motorcycle racing.
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Paul_J
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Registered: 6th Jun 02
Location: London
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Every year I watch the TT really makes me wanna race in it despite how on edge it is and how many die in it
However, I do feel if I was to get myself the R6 I keep planning to do, I would be dead already.
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Paul_J
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Registered: 6th Jun 02
Location: London
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And on another note i was impressed with how well Toesland did in the moto gp considering he was on the crap yamaha bike...
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Paul_J
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Registered: 6th Jun 02
Location: London
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What a battle and typical rossi move
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ka0ozPy8x88
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SVM 286
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Registered: 13th Feb 05
Location: pain
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I still want a bike but will probably stay clear to be on the safe side.
Incidentally, I had heard of Rossi, but have barely ever watched him. I am more of a four wheel fan.
JR however is a diferent story. 
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Paul_J
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Registered: 6th Jun 02
Location: London
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Yeh I can drive a car quicker than i can ride a bike, but I just put that down to my experience level. The sensation of riding a bike is completely different to a car, for a start you feel more free (and vunerable), but you smell the air, can see everything etc...
but also the feeling on a bike when you hook up sweeping bend after sweeping bend is great. It's also far too easy to just overtake every car you catch up, infact often I've gone down the middle of the road with car either side going both ways, you don't realise how much space you have till you're out there.
Problem is I then forget I'm not on a bike, when i'm in my car
The only thing is, a bit like driving a car, there's what your body automatically wants to do and what you have to train yourself to do.
If you feel like you're not gonna make it around a bend, the worse thing you can do is brake as it'll stand the bike up and go straight (into a hedge)... so instead you have to lay it down more and pile on the throttle more (which is a bit scary when you already feel screwed).
This is my bike, nothing special, 34 bhp (which sounds like nothing .. well it is) - but only 125 kg, probably quicker to 60 than my car, similar to my car to 90 and then my car's quicker past that.
It's very easy to throw into bends though due to its lightness... 
I'm pretty sure if i had something bigger / quicker i would be dead.
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Steve X16XE
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Registered: 31st Dec 06
Location: Barnsley, South Yorkshire
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I'm up for anything you can do something stupid in. Would love a bike but i know that at 60mph i'd be a cripple, so i'd end up doing 120mph.
Hence why i haven't got a bike yet
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Paul_J
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Registered: 6th Jun 02
Location: London
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To be honest, when I first started riding - I nearly stacked it about 5 times ... each time felt like 'Hmm I nearly died there'...
There's probably a reason why you're supposed to ride the bike restricted till you pass your test
I remember coming through this one section doing like 90 odd, felt like i was going too quick into it and didn't realise the road tighten up ahead, then a car came around the bend, I slammed the brakes on and it just stood up and went straight at the car... I was like OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOhhhhh FUUUccccccccccckkk
Came off the brakes and then hung off the left of the bike fast and got round ... but initially I was like ooooooh shit.
and when I had ditch finder tyres the bike used to slide across the road when exiting some bends at speed... once again near death.
MY original bike - this one
it's got a single swinging arm 
cool apart from when the bolt holding the arm in, starts working its way out as you're riding the bike through some bends back from the great brighton bike run
Was going round bends and I was like 'fucking hell the rear feels like it's loose'
about 1/2 a mile later i looked down and saw this
a bit further that'd collapsed the rear end of the bike with me half way through a bend ouch.
I feel a lot safer / calmer / more in control these days though. But it showed me definately why they don't let people straight on the big bikes.
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Paul_J
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Registered: 6th Jun 02
Location: London
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oh yeh the randomest one was there was some big sports bike that came past me at one point... so doing the chavvy thing I chased after it, we got to some twisties and I was giving it my all to keep up, in the tighter bends i was gaining, and the medium bends i was staying fairly level, but on the bits of straights it'd blitz me.
Anyway we get out of the end of it and the bloke slowed down, shook his finger at me like 'naughty naughty' (we were both breaking the speed limit) and then told me to be 'more careful' - I thought he was gonna produce a police badge he didn't tho, he stopped to get petrol and i went home
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Steve X16XE
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Registered: 31st Dec 06
Location: Barnsley, South Yorkshire
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I done something like that in my corsa. I was late getting home and cought upto some superbikes. Heard my exhaust so the overtook some cars, so did I. Got round a corner shot past a few more and i did the same. Then the guy at the back looked at me and shook his head. I was like WTF. I'm doing what your doing. I got home in record time though
[Edited on 22-03-2008 by Steve X16XE]
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Paul_J
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Registered: 6th Jun 02
Location: London
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yeh understandable really ... but oh well - good fun all the same.
I think it's all to do with them 'just having a fun ride' and the thought we're trying to race them. But with me it wasn't racing, it was just following / keeping up for fun.
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Russ
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Registered: 14th Mar 04
Location: Armchair
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can we keep this about Vale please 
i want a bike 
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