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Valentino Rossi, the party is here: 47 years as a champion

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Special day for Valentino Rossi who, today, celebrates 47 years. A definitely significant milestone for a legend of two wheels. It is enough to mention the nine World Champion titles in Motorsport to understand the greatness of the Doctor. Born in Urbino on February 16, 1979, Valentino Rossi conquered the world of two wheels starting in Tavullia, the town that, thanks to his exploits, has become a mystical, special, unique place. Growing up with Kevin Schwantz as his absolute idol, he has proved from a very young age that he is an absolute motorsport star.

Andrea GussoniCrowd bath for Valentino Rossi and Team VR46: photos of the presentation of the special livery for Mandalika

Great excitement in Indonesia for the arrival of Valentino Rossi and Team VR46 drivers, Fabio Di Giannantonio and Franco Morbidelli
The nine-time world champion arrived in Mandalika to present the special livery of his team'Indonesia" />
The nine-time world champion arrived in Mandalika to present the special livery of his team'Indonesia

The livery adds to the yellow of the VR46 the colors of the Indonesian flag, white and red

For the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing team the one in Mandalika is a kind of home grand prix
In 2024 Morbidelli (then in the Pramac team) finished in the top 5 in both the Sprint Race and the Sunday race
Also last year, Di Giannantonio was less fortunate: for him ninth place in the Sprint, retirement in the Sunday race

The popularity of the team in Indonesia is huge, also thanks to the media reach of its founder
The team founded by Valentino Rossi aims to surprise on the circuit that from 2022 hosts a MotoGP race
Among those present, of course, also the team manager Alessio Salucci, for all Uccio
The goal of Rossi is to get prestigious results in this season finale, setting the stage for further improvement in 2026

Morbidelli and Di Giannantonio were also able to briefly visit the'town area near the circuit
Both drivers enjoyed a ride on the Bajay, the iconic Indonesian three-wheeled taxi

Just take a look at his statistics to be amazed: nine World Championship titles, 115 victories, 235 podiums won, 65 pole positions. All this in 432 races. First success in Motorsport in 1996, the last in 2017. In short, two decades as an absolute protagonist. A big Inter fan, he came close to a resounding marriage with Ferrari. Now a family man, as a young man he was never one to mince his words. His “discussions” with Max Biaggi are legendary, as are his name and number, which, today, go hand in hand. Happy birthday to an absolute phenomenon: Valentino Rossi.

A decidedly special moment characterized the first phase of the Milano Cortina 2026 opening ceremony: the audience at the Milano San Siro Olympic Stadium (as the Meazza has been renamed for these Winter Olympic Games) erupted in unexpected applause when the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella appeared on the big screens, framed as he traveled on one of Milan&#8217s historic streetcars, driven for the occasion by one of the symbols of Italian sports, Valentino Rossi.

The choice of the streetcar, one of the most recognizable symbols of the Lombard capital, symbolizes the everyday while the presence of Rossi, a global sports icon, adds a touch of irony, the kind that has made the ‘Dottore’famous in addition to his successes on the track, transforming the arrival of the Head of State into a narrative moment in its own right.

Mattarella was then framed in the stands, greeted by the applause of the more than 70,000 in attendance, just before, on the stage set up for the occasion, Laura Pausini sang the national anthem.

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