UK Motorcycle News & Stories — Valentino Rossi
On This Day – 2006 – Toni Elías Beat Rossi by 0.002 Seconds at Estoril
Mike Bowden MotoGP motorcycle racing On This Day Toni Elías Valentino Rossi
It remains the narrowest winning margin in MotoGP history, but the width of a tyre at the finishing line tells only half the story.
Elías was not fighting for the championship. He arrived in Portugal 13th in the standings and had never won a premier-class Grand Prix. Rossi, by contrast, was attempting to overhaul Nicky Hayden and secure a sixth consecutive top-class world title.
On This Day – 2001 – Valentino Rossi Became the Last 500cc World Champion
Mike Bowden MotoGP motorcycle racing On This Day Valentino Rossi
On this day in 2001, Valentino Rossi crossed the finish line at Phillip Island to become motorcycle racing’s final 500cc World Champion. He was only 22, yet he had already won titles in the 125cc and 250cc classes. Australia completed the set and placed him at the summit of Grand Prix racing just as the sport was preparing to change beyond recognition.
MotoGP’s 2027 Rule Shake-Up Explained: Why Rossi’s VR46 Could Be Perfectly Placed to Pounce
Mike Bowden motorcycle racing Valentino Rossi
If you’ve been watching modern MotoGP and thinking, “These bikes are starting to look like fighter jets that accidentally found a pair of handlebars,” you’re not alone.
Inside Rossi’s VR46 Racing Team: Ducati Factory Support, 2026 Ambitions, and the 2027 Rider Shake-Up
Mike Bowden motorcycle industry motorcycle racing Valentino Rossi
The rider who made MotoGP feel like a travelling rock show now runs one of the paddock’s most fascinating operations: the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team. And in 2026, that team sits in a rare sweet spot