Valentino Rossi profile: At 24 years old the list goes on...

Name: Valentino Rossi
Birth date: 16/02/1979
Birth place: Urbino, ITA
First Grand Prix: 1996 MAL 125cc
First Pole Position: 1996 CZE 125cc
First Race Fastest Lap: 1996 FRA 125cc
First Podium: 1996 AUT 125cc
First GP Victory: 1996 CZE 125cc
Grand Prix Starts: 122
500cc/MotoGP Starts: 62
250cc Starts: 30
125cc Starts: 30
Grand Prix Victories: 57
500cc/MotoGP Victories: 31
250cc Victories: 14
125cc Victories: 12
2nd Placements: 19
3rd placements: 12
Podium: 88
Pole Positions 26
Race Fastest Lap 54
World Championship Wins: 5
1997 125cc
1999 250cc
2001 500cc
2002 MotoGP
2003 MotoGP
Total Points: 2138

BIOGRAPHICAL DATA

Born: February 16, 1979 in Urbino. Son of Graziano Rossi, who was third in the 1979 250cc World Championship on a Morbidelli. Begins sporting career in 1990 in mini-moto competitions. In 1993 makes debut with Cagiva in Italian 125cc Sport Production championship, taking first victories in rookie season and winning the title in 1994.
In 1995 contests European Championships as official Aprilia rider, finishing the season in third place. Retains his Italian 125cc Championship crown.

MotoGP career:

1996: World Championship debut at the 125cc Malaysian GP riding an Aprilia in Scuderia AGV. Final Championship position: 9th with 111 points - 1 victory: Czech Republic.
1997: Second youngest ever 125cc Champion riding an Aprilia for the Nastro Azzurro Team. Final Championship position: 1st with 321 points - 11 wins: Malaysia, Spain, Italy, France, Netherlands, Imola, Germany, Brazil, Great Britain, Catalunya and Indonesia.
1998: Moves up to 250cc class riding an Aprilia for the Nastro Azzurro Team. Final Championship position: 2nd with 201 points - 5 wins: Netherlands, Imola, Catalunya, Australia and Argentina.
1999: Becomes the youngest ever 250 World Champion riding for the Aprilia Grand Prix Racing. Final Championship position: 1st with 309 points - 9 wins: Spain, Italy, Catalunya, Great Britain, Germany, Czech Republic, Australia, South Africa and Brazil.
2000: Moves up to the 500cc class riding a Honda for the Nastro Azzuro Team. Final Championship position: 2nd with 209 points - 2 wins: Great Britain and Brazil.
2001: Takes the 500cc World Championship riding a Honda for the Nastro Azzuro Team. Final Championship position: 1st with 325 points. - 11 wins: Japan, South Africa, Spain, Catalunya, Great Britain, Czech Republic, Portugal, Pacific, Australia, Malaysia and Brazil.
2002: Wins revised format MotoGP World Championship riding all-new four stroke Honda RC211V for the Repsol Honda Team. Final Championship position: 1st with 355 points -11 wins: Japan, Spain, France, Catalunya, Italy, Netherlands, Great Britain, Germany, Portugal, Brazil and Australia.
2003: Wins his second MotoGP World Championship for the Repsol Honda Team. Final Championship position: 1st with 307 points after 14 of 16 rounds. 7 wins so far: Japan, Spain, Italy, Czech Republic, Portugal, Rio and Malaysia.

Other facts about Rossi's career:

In 2001 Rossi became the youngest ever rider to win titles in three different classes. The only other two riders to win titles in three classes are Phil Read (125, 250, 500) and Mike Hailwood (250, 350, 500).

Rossi was the fourth youngest rider ever to win the 500cc title after Freddie Spencer, Mike Hailwood and John Surtees.

Rossi is the second rider ever to win the premier class title with a two-stroke and a four-stroke machine (2001 – Honda NSR500; 2002 – Honda RC211V). The first was Giacomo Agostini (1966 to 1972 – MV 500cc four-stroke; 1975 Yamaha 500cc two-stroke).

Rossi is the eighth rider to have won three or more successive premier-class titles. He joins an illustrious list which also includes Geoff Duke, John Surtees, Mike Hailwood, Giacomo Agostini, Kenny Roberts, Wayne Rainey and Mick Doohan.