(VO)
World Champion Valentino Rossi hasn’t just brought the crowds back to motorcycle racing, he’s brought a new generation of idolisers to the track. The young, sublimely talented and dazzlingly charismatic Italian has stolen the hearts of thousands of followers with his phenomenal riding talent. In seven startling years from 1996 he has risen to pop star fame, forsaking the crowds continually mobbing him in his home town of Urbino for the relative anonymity of London and his favourite night haunts.

Born in 1979, the year of his father Graziano’s three 250 GP wins, ‘the Doctor’ was always on a bike from two years old. Entering GP racing in 1996 he won the 125cc World Championship in ’97, the 250cc in ’99 and the last ever 500cc in 2001. Now, with his awesome riding talent, intelligent tactics and admirable consistency he’s king of MotoGP.

From his first appearances the blue-eyed mophead with the sunny disposition attracted a new following. You just can’t resist someone who takes a serious business seriously while making it look like it’s just a bit of a laugh. Sit back and watch his secret unfold: he’s always relaxed, always enjoying himself and always very, very fast.