Valentino Rossi: “Just Keep Calling Me The Doctor”

At 1994′s Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka, a red Honda with a gaudy green number 56 emblazoned on its nose got the attention of the whole roadracing world. Making a dive into the 500cc grand prix class was a Japanese wild card called Norifumi Abe. From his start in the seventh position until three laps from the checkered flag, this unusual long-haired Japanese rider would be fighting neck and neck for the win with aces like Kevin Schwantz and Mick Doohan. He ended up crashing before the last few laps, but he won in the heart of a young Valentino Rossi, who adopted the nickname “Rossifumi” when joining the 125cc class two years later. Valentino would win his first world title with that name, but it would soon change; as his success grew, he became “Valentinik,” in honor of Paperinik, the Disney superhero, and when 2001 rolled around, he took on the title of “The Doctor.” As Rossi was a common name in Italy (as was “Dottor Rossi”) Valentino adopted the nickname “The Doctor,” somewhat in jest, but also referring to a master in riding. With nine world titles to his tally and often considered the GOAT—the Greatest of all Time—Valentino deserved to be called “The Doctor” all these years. But in 2021, Rossi will in fact be leaving the Yamaha factory team to race with the satellite Yamaha Petronas squad, so what should we call him as he enters a new phase of his life?

You’ll be switching teams next year. What should we call you now that you’re entering a new phase?

Just continue calling me “The Doctor.” I think it’s still valid as I have a lesson to give in showing that it is possible to be fast and competitive at my age. Riders nowadays are true athletes, so if you want to succeed, you need dedication. In a way, I consider myself the first rider of the new generation as I started to compete when I was only 3 years old. It’s a trend that then became crucial [if you wanted] to be a successful rider.

This is your 25th season. How do you keep the motivation alive?

Passion for what I do is the key. When I was a kid, my dad was competing in go-kart racing. He put me on a bike when I was 3. It was something unusual at the time, but you know [my dad] Graziano! When I am riding a motorcycle on a track, the feeling hasn’t changed: I’m happy. If I continue, it is because I feel I am competitive. I am here to fight for the podium and the victory.

Misano, Barcelona, Le Mans: three zeros in a row. We saw you really frustrated. Are you still enjoying racing?

I was sad and it is really a shame because I feel that this year I’m faster than in 2019. When these things happen, you start to question yourself.

What kind of questions did you ask yourself?

Throughout my career I have often wondered if good luck or bad luck exists. Well, if it exists, this is an unlucky period for me. The positive side is that I feel competitive. In fact I made three different mistakes. At Misano 2, I was not feeling physically well; at Barcelona, I was having a great race [but] I crashed when I was in second—and the podium was possible. In France, I started well but I crashed on the first turn. I knew it was wet and cold, so I was not pushing, but I lost the rear of the bike. It is sad.

The French GP was tough for most of the Yamahas.

The race was declared wet, but the asphalt was not fully wet. In general we suffer a lot in these mixed conditions because the M1 loses a lot in acceleration.

How do you explain all the ups and downs this season, not only for you but for many other riders?

It’s [been] a crazy championship, starting from the beginning of the calendar [with one double- and four triple-headers]. We are racing in Europe in October and November with cold conditions, when we are usually in Malaysia, Japan, and Australia. It’s a championship determined a lot by the tires.

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It’s been a strange year also in terms of the riders' market. In the past, you would have been the first to sign, but this time you were among the last.

When you struggle, as I did the second part of last year, you start to question yourself, you make comparisons with other riders, you check the data, and you realize that you are the oldest. So when Lin Jarvis asked to see me in January to discuss my future, I took my time, even if this meant losing the seat on the factory team. We agreed with Yamaha that if I wanted to continue later in the season the door was open with a factory M1 at Petronas, which is a very professional team.

Why did you sign a contract for only one year?

It’s a technicality, because my contract is with Yamaha, and they have a contract with Petronas only till 2021, so we had to do a one-year contract. I didn’t want to start 2021 thinking that this would be my last season, so we agreed that in mid-2021 I can decide to continue if I want.

What was the main motivation for that?

In my heart I feel that I am competitive. When you feel well with your body, the motivations make all the difference. Racing has been a huge part of life and [as long as] I enjoy it, I want to continue.

Is riding for a satellite team sort of like going back in time?

Exactly! It will be like when I joined Nastro Azzurro in the 500cc class riding a factory bike in a satellite team. I have been told I was the only rider to have won in the premier class on a satellite team. It means that I will try again next year (laughing).

Fifteen years with Yamaha, 20 with your crew. It will be difficult to leave them.

My wish was to have them all joining me in Petronas as we did in the past when I switched from Honda HRC to Yamaha, then to Ducati and back to Yamaha. For me it has always been important to have my people with me. I fought hard but at this point of my career not everything can be perfect; we had to find a compromise. David Muñoz (the chief mechanic), Matteo Flamigni (the data analyst), and Idalio Gavira (the coach) will join me. I’m sorry Alex and Brent (Briggs and Stephens) [won’t be joining me]; Alex has been with me since 2001, my first year in 500cc. It will be sad not to have them with me.

What’s it like sharing the garage with your friend Franco Morbidelli, a rider from the VR46 Academy?

If [you would have told me] this five years ago, I would never have believed that this could be possible!

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There have been rumors recently about the possibility of VR46 buying the Reale Avintia team in 2022. Are you planning a debut soon with the VR46 team in MotoGP with Yamaha?

We spoke with Lin Jarvis about the bikes. It would be amazing, but first we need to decide if we want to do this step. At the moment reach, also in terms of budget, is in the junior classes.