jack
01-07-2009, 06:02 AM
Valentine Rossi sealed his eighth world title at Motegi, announcing that this year's battle had been his toughest yet and describing how losing the title in 2006 and 2007 had made him grow up. He reflected his defeats with a title winning T-shirt showing a clock striking eight and bearing the words 'sorry for being late'. The reverse of the shirt showed Rossi as a chef (not a doctor), listing the ingredients of his 'world championship soup'.
"Losing the world title made me grow up," said Rossi after achieving his 70th elite win. "Before that I was thinking I was a little bit unbeatable. But I've come back stronger, this has been the hardest championship of them all. It means more because there have been some big fights, big battles compared to the previous few years."
535
Rossi revealed how 2007 had been his worst year ever, mainly due to the deaths of two of his heroes Japanese GP star Norick Abe and former world rally champion Colin McRrae. "It was a crap season, and the deaths made it the worst ever," he said. Rossi also had to deal with a major tax evasion investigation by the Italian authorities, which he solved with a £26 million payout.
Rossi was warmly congratulated by outgoing champ Casey Stoner and also by Nicky Hayden who beat him to the 2006 crown. "Congratulations to Valentino," said the American. "I know what it takes to win one and it takes a bad dude to win eight of them. Much respect." Rossi's eighth crown is his sixth in the elite class, in which he won five consecutive titles from 2001 to 2005 and follows his 1999 250 and 1997 125 successes.
"Losing the world title made me grow up," said Rossi after achieving his 70th elite win. "Before that I was thinking I was a little bit unbeatable. But I've come back stronger, this has been the hardest championship of them all. It means more because there have been some big fights, big battles compared to the previous few years."
535
Rossi revealed how 2007 had been his worst year ever, mainly due to the deaths of two of his heroes Japanese GP star Norick Abe and former world rally champion Colin McRrae. "It was a crap season, and the deaths made it the worst ever," he said. Rossi also had to deal with a major tax evasion investigation by the Italian authorities, which he solved with a £26 million payout.
Rossi was warmly congratulated by outgoing champ Casey Stoner and also by Nicky Hayden who beat him to the 2006 crown. "Congratulations to Valentino," said the American. "I know what it takes to win one and it takes a bad dude to win eight of them. Much respect." Rossi's eighth crown is his sixth in the elite class, in which he won five consecutive titles from 2001 to 2005 and follows his 1999 250 and 1997 125 successes.