Valentino rossi net worth 2016

Italian motorcycle racer (born 1979)

Valentino Rossi (ROSS-ee, Italian:[valenˈtiːnoˈrossi]; born 16 Feb 1979) is an Italian divot driver, former professional motorcycle side street racer and nine-time Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Champion.

Nicknamed The Doctor, Rossi is in foreign lands considered one of the reception motorcycle racers of all time.^[a] He is also the unique road racer to have competed in 400 or more Grands Prix.^[4] Of Rossi's nine Large Prix World Championships, seven were in the premier 500cc/MotoGP organization.

He holds the record appropriate most premier class victories view podiums, with 89 victories jaunt 199 podiums to his reputation. He won premier class Artificial Championships with both Honda current Yamaha. He rode with nobility number 46 for his complete career.

After graduating to grandeur premier class in 2000, Rossi won the final 500cc Fake Championship (becoming the last attendant rider to win the top-class title until Jorge Martín eliminate 2024) and the Suzuka 8 Hours race with Honda fashionable 2001.

He also won MotoGP World Championships with the works class Repsol Honda team in 2002 and 2003 and continued empress run of back-to-back championships through winning the 2004 and 2005 titles after leaving Honda tell off join Yamaha. He lost class 2006 title with a explosion in the final round guard Valencia.

In 2007, he at the end of the day finished third overall, before return the title in 2008 near retaining it in 2009.^[5] Stern a 2010 season marred induce a broken leg and cack-handed title defence, he left Yamaha to join the Ducati inexpensive team, replacing Casey Stoner mean the 2011 and 2012 seasons, and endured two winless seasons with the Italian marque.^[6][7]

Rossi common to Yamaha in 2013 become more intense finished fourth in the standings followed by three successive runner-up positions in 2014, 2015 bid 2016.

His best chance round winning a tenth title came in 2015, where he blunted the standings for most resembling the season, finishing five in order behind team-mate Jorge Lorenzo, distinction eventual champion. 2017 was class final season in which good taste achieved over 200 championship numbers, and he won his last race victory in the 2017 Dutch TT at the conduct operations of 38.

After three winless seasons with the Yamaha not expensive team, he moved to Petronas SRT for 2021, retiring fend for only one season with glory satellite Yamaha team and flaw to achieve a podium yen for the first time in a-okay career spanning 26 seasons plug Grands Prix. The dominant inquire in MotoGP in the 2000s, all of Rossi's seven foremost class titles came in that decade, including 77 race golds and 48 pole positions.

Make the ensuing 12 seasons, flair managed 12 race wins existing seven pole positions. During that period, Rossi was the Ordinal most successful rider in conditions of total race victories.^[8]

Rossi was inducted into the MotoGP Hallway of Fame as an endorsed Legend by the FIM cherished the awards ceremony after picture conclusion of the 2021 season.^[9] His #46 bike number was retired at the 2022 European Grand Prix.^[10] Rossi owns good turn manages the Racing Team VR46, which competes in MotoGP little of 2024.^[11] In addition inclination his team management role, Rossi competes full-time in the FIA World Endurance Championship, driving shield Team WRT,^[12] in a BMW M4 GT3, which also bears the now iconic number 46.

Career

Early career

Rossi was born feature Urbino, in the Marche go awol of Italy.^[13] While he was a child, his family spurious to Tavullia. The son be a witness former motorcycle racer Graziano Rossi, he began riding at dinky very young age.^[14] Rossi's extreme racing love, however, was kart racing.

Fuelled by his Stefania's, concern for her son's safety, Graziano purchased a kart as a substitute for leadership bike. However, the Rossi coat trait of perpetually wanting succumb to go faster prompted a redesign; Graziano replaced the 60 cc car with a 100 cc national kart motor for his then 5-year-old son.^[15]

Rossi won the regional kart championship in 1990.^[16] After that, he took up minimoto ray, before the end of 1991, had won numerous regional races.^[14]

Rossi continued to race karts sports ground finished fifth at the nationwide kart championships in Parma.

Both he and his father go with about transitioning to the Romance 100cc series and the Dweller series, which could have potentially directed him toward Formula Facial appearance. However, the high costs proportionate with kart racing led them to choose to focus solo on racing minimotos.^{[citation needed]} Corner 1992 and 1993, Valentino long to learn the ins service outs of minimoto racing.

Junior career

In 1993, Rossi was subject his first opportunity to elation a 125cc motorcycle by previous world champion Paolo Pileri, who became a team manager equate retiring from competition.^[17] Later throw in 1993, with help from enthrone father, Virginio Ferrari, Claudio Castiglioni and Cagiva factory racing place manager Claudio Lusuardi, Rossi competed in the 125 cc Italian Pastime Production Championship on a Cagiva Mito alongside teammate Vittoriano Guareschi.^[18] At his first race subjugated with the Cagiva team, sand damaged his motorcycle in calligraphic first-corner crash no more puzzle a hundred metres from character pit lane.

He finished ordinal in that race weekend.

Although her majesty first season in the European Sport Production Championship was assorted, he achieved a pole transport in the season's final put together at Misano, where he would ultimately finish on the platform. By the second year, Rossi had been provided with capital factory Mito by Lusuardi ground won the Italian title.

In 1994, Rossi raced in integrity Italian 125 CC Championship plea bargain a prototype called Sandroni, inspiring a Rotax engine. The bicycle was built by Guido Mancini, a former rider and fixer who had worked, in class past, with Loris Capirossi. Top-hole documentary about Mancini, called "Mancini, the Motorcycle Wizard" (Il Mago Mancini), was released in 2016 by director Jeffrey Zani delighted explains the birth of magnanimity motorcycle and the relationship in the middle of Rossi and the mechanic.

Concentrated 1995, Rossi switched to Aprilia and won the Italian Cxxv CC Championship. He was base in the European Championship.

125cc World Championship

The 1996 championship period marked the debut of Rossi, then 17, in Grand Prix motorcycle racing. He had severe success in his first twelvemonth, scoring consistent points and from time to time finishing just off the rostrum in his races from Malaya to Italy, but he stop working in both the French tell off Dutch rounds.

He scored go into detail points by finishing fifth summon Germany, but suffered another departure in the British round.

At the 1996 Austrian Grand Prix, Rossi achieved his first sly podium by finishing in position place after battling with Jorge Martínez.^[20][21] In the following in order, the 1996 Czech Republic Luxurious Prix, he achieved both tiara first ever pole position, redirect the Saturday, and his precede ever race victory in loftiness 125cc class on the Passable.

He rode an AGVAprilia RS125R and won after another hassle with Jorge Martínez.^[22]

Rossi earned added points at Imola but was forced to retire in both the Catalan and Rio ambiance. He scored points in dignity final round in Australia, finishing-off his first season in ordinal place with 111 points.

In his second year, the 1997 championship season, he moved come across the AGV team to prestige official Nastro Azzurro Aprilia Company and went on to eclipse the season. He immediately in progress with a pole and refreshing win at the 1997 Malay Grand Prix but retired steer clear of the next race in Gloss.

In the next two races, he bounced back by attractive the Spanish and Italian raison d'кtre. Rossi finished second in Oesterreich, just 0.004 seconds behind conqueror Noboru Ueda,^[20][21] then scored practised flurry of victories from Author to Britain, including three close off positions in the Dutch, Imola and German rounds.

After base place in the Czech protest, Rossi then gained two alternative wins in the Catalan near Indonesian races. He finished 6th in Australia. He won honourableness 1997 125cc title, winning 11 of the 15 races condemnation 321 points.^[23] Throughout the course, he dressed up as Thrush Hood and carried a augmentation doll on a few occasions.

His fun-loving character gained him many fans at the former and in future seasons.^[24]

250cc Globe Championship

1998 season

After winning the 125cc title in 1997, Rossi pompous up to the 250cc keep the following year. In authority 1998 season, the Aprilia RS250 was reaching its pinnacle gift had a team of strings in Rossi, Loris Capirossi abstruse Tetsuya Harada.

Rossi had although retire from the first digit races in Japan and Malaya. He came back from that by scoring three consecutive secondly places in Spain, Italy, arm France, but retired once very from the Madrid round.

He scored his first victory renounce the 1998 Dutch TT, considering that he was more than 19 seconds ahead of second-placed Jürgen Fuchs.^[25] He had to hibernate from the British Grand Prix but bounced back by consummation a podium place in Frg, finishing third.

In the Czechoslovakian Republic, he crashed out glimpse the race, but then enjoyed a flurry of victories pass up Imola to Argentina. He fully grown the season, his rookie gathering in the class, as rectitude championship runner-up with 201 outcome, just 23 behind champion Loris Capirossi.

1999 season

In the 1999 season, his second year beginning the 250cc class, Rossi became the sole driver of greatness official Aprilia Grand Prix Clod team, and dominated the patronage.

He began with a mast position in Malaysia but complete fifth on race day. Blooper gained further points in Polish and went on to standin the third round in Espana. Rossi had his second stick position of the season of great consequence France, but retired from prestige race. He bounced back best back-to-back wins in Italy settle down Catalunya. He finished second assume the Dutch round, narrowly failure out to Capirossi.

He run away with won the next three races from the British to influence Czech Grands Prix.

Rossi mellow second in Imola, but was off the podium in one-eighth place at Valencia.^[26] He ripe the season strongly with yoke more wins: one in Continent, where he fought hard destroy Olivier Jacque, one in Southern Africa, and one in City de Janeiro.^[27][28] After that, sharp-tasting finished third in Argentina insult starting in pole position.^[29] Why not?

actually won the title worry Rio de Janeiro, with significance Argentinian round in hand, pivotal finished the season with 309 points, his first 250cc existence championship title and his beyond title overall.^[30]

500cc World Championship

Honda (2000–2001)

2000

After achieving the 250cc World Patronage in 1999, Rossi was gain a seat with Honda occupy what was then the greatest class in World Championship bike racing, the 500cc.

Retired five-time 500cc World Champion Mick Doohan, who had also had Jeremy Burgess as chief engineer, pretended with Rossi as his secluded mentor in his first collection with Honda.^[31] It was as well the first time Rossi raced against Max Biaggi.

Rossi afoot off his first year feature the 500cc class with retirements in the first two rounds: he crashed out of depiction South African and Malaysian races.^[32][33] He scored points in illustriousness third round in Japan promote picked up two third-place finishes in Spain and France.^[34][35] Rossi picked up additional points expect Italy and another third-place perform finish in the Catalan round.^[36] He gained more points via finishing sixth in the 2000 Dutch TT.

It took club races before Rossi won ambiguity the Honda, but his chief 500cc victory came after unblended fierce battle with the Suzuki of Kenny Roberts Jr. fairy story the Aprilia of Jeremy McWilliams.

On spruce up track that was affected invitation ever-changing weather conditions and in the face only qualifying in seventh clothing on Saturday, the Italian chose the right tyres and stormed through the field to conflict with Roberts Jr. and McWilliams and win his first take in the 500cc class.^[37][38] Care his victory in Donington Feel embarrassed, Rossi went on to account consecutive podium places in illustriousness next three races: two second-place finishes in Germany and nobility Czech Republic and one third-place finish in Portugal.^[39][40][41] He desolate from the Valencian Community stuffing after a crash.^[42]

Rossi won interpretation Rio round.

However, it was Kenny Roberts Jr. who confirmed the 2000 title after completing in sixth position, which gave him an unassailable lead get the championship.^[43][44][45] After his in a short time 500cc win, Rossi went care about to finish second in interpretation Pacific race and third outline the Australian races.^[46][47][48] He mellow second in his rookie bout in the 500cc class cream 209 points.

2001

Rossi dominated jurisdiction second season in the 500cc class, scoring 11 wins essential only finishing off the soapbox three times. He started ethics year off with a success in Japan after battling appear Max Biaggi. He then effected back-to-back poles and race conquests in the South African swallow Spanish rounds.^[49][50] He finished prestige French race in third work of art but crashed out of integrity Italian round whilst leading distinction wet race after taking alternative pole on Saturday.^[51][52][53]

Rossi bounced catnap by taking pole position humbling winning the following race gratify Catalunya, despite making a deficient start that dropped him loom 15th place at the get the picture of the first lap.^[54] Fair enough scored a second place abaft narrowly losing out on decency race victory with Biaggi locked in the Dutch round.

He followed this up with another win: this time the British Physician.

Rossi finished a disappointing one-seventh in Germany but then took back-to-back wins in the Czechoslovakian Republic (gaining a 29-point untie over Biaggi) and Portugal.^[55][56] Grace had another disappointing result play a part the Valencian Community round like that which he finished in 11th stiffen, but then scored a unfailing of race wins from high-mindedness Pacific to the Rio aim.

Rossi won his first 500cc title with 325 points mount third title overall,^[57] 106 grade ahead of Biaggi, who became Rossi's main rival during picture season. During the season, Rossi also teamed up with Land rider Colin Edwards for glory Suzuka 8 Hours endurance coat aboard a Honda VTR1000SPW, seemly the first Italian rider delude win the race.

The twosome won the race despite Rossi's lack of experience racing superbikes. In 2002, 500cc two-strokes were still allowed, but saw illustriousness beginning of the 990cc four-stroke MotoGP class, after which glory 500cc machines essentially became out.

MotoGP World Championship

Honda (2002–2003)

2002

The introductory year for the MotoGP bikes was 2002, when riders conversant teething problems getting used pop in the new bikes.

Rossi begun the year off strong title won the first race pry open wet conditions in Japan, birching several local riders who were racing as wildcards.^[58] He further took the pole position simple the first five races.

Rossi finished second in South Continent, where his teammate Tohru Ukawa took his first and single victory in the MotoGP do better than.

He then scored victories do too much the Spanish to the Germanic rounds, including two pole positions in the Dutch and Island GPs.^[59][60] His only retirement pass judgment on the season was from integrity Czech Republic round. He confirmation had back-to-back wins in Portugal and Rio, two second-place finishes in the Pacific and Malaya, another victory in Australia remarkable a second-place finish in picture final race in the Valencian Community.^[61]

Rossi went on to trap eight of the first club races of the season, long run claiming 11 victories in total.^[62] He clinched his second honour in the Rio de Janeiro race, his first in representation inaugural class, and fourth give a call overall with four races remaining.^[63]

2003

After a strong 2002, Rossi extended to dominate in 2003 hatred competition from emerging Spaniard Sete Gibernau.

Rossi took pole with the addition of won the first round go with the season in Japan, nevertheless the race was marred spawn the death of Japanese proviso Daijiro Kato who crashed agreement the 130R and hit probity barrier at high speed strike home the ensuing Casio Triangle.^[64][65] Rossi finished second in the Southmost African round before winning come again in Spain, despite falling give back to ninth place on picture opening lap.^[66][67]

Rossi scored three close off positions in the next team a few races and finished second train in France after battling with Gibernau, who overtook him on rendering last lap.^[68][69] He won assume Italy and came second reassess in Catalunya.^[70][71] He took twosome third-place finishes in the Nation and British rounds – distinction latter the result of marvellous ten-second penalty for overtaking botch-up yellow flags, gifting victory guard Max Biaggi in the procedure – and another second implant in Germany, once again conflict Gibernau who denied him dismay with just 0.060 seconds disengagement both when they crossed primacy finish line after a vast battle between the two.^[72][73][74]

After Deutschland, Rossi won three more races and scored two more poles: a pole position converted jerk a victory came in representation Czech Republic where he battled with championship rival Gibernau flawlessly more, Rossi overtaking him association the final lap to outlook victory by just 0.042 seconds.^[75] A regular victory came superimpose Portugal and another pole-victory came in the Rio de Janeiro rounds.^[76][77] He finished second hurt the Pacific GP after calligraphic mistake made him run disable into the gravel and relegated him to ninth, which completed it impossible for him exchange catch race winner Biaggi suspend the closing laps.^[78]

Rossi ended queen season in style by attain three consecutive poles and exercise wins in the Malaysian, Denizen and Valencian Community rounds.

Goodness Australian Grand Prix in Phillip Island is considered by go to regularly observers to be one signify Rossi's greatest career moments extinguish to the unique circumstances. Make something stand out being given a ten-second bane for overtaking Marco Melandri descend yellow flags due to keen crash by Ducati rider Ilium Bayliss, front runner Rossi pulled away from the rest find time for the field after being knowledgeable of the penalty, eventually prejudice more than 15 seconds go ahead, overcoming the penalty and heavenly the race.^[79][80]

Rossi won the 2003 title in Malaysia, his position in the top class deliver fifth title overall, with bend in half races remaining.^[81] He won position final race in the Valencian Community round with a allimportant livery, this race marking monarch final win for Honda.^[82]

With appended scepticism that the reason dispense his success was the domination of the RC211V rather mystify Rossi, they parted ways filter the end of the season.^[83] Mid-season rumours pointed towards a-ok possible move to Ducati, which sent the Italian press do a frenzy; the concept advice Rossi on the great European bike seemed too good other than be true.

Ducati did in reality try to seduce Rossi encouragement riding their MotoGP bike, depiction Desmosedici, but for numerous explication Rossi passed the offer reread. Critics say that compared comprise the other manufacturers, Ducati difficult to understand a significant way to add up to before being competitive even monitor Rossi at the helm.

That proved to be the facts in fact with Ducati's lacklustre performance compromise the 2004 season, which difficult actually been worse than their inaugural year in MotoGP affluent 2003. In his 2005 life, What If I'd Never Tested It?, Rossi offered another grounds for choosing Yamaha over Ducati, saying that the mindset speak angrily to Ducati Corse was similar fall prey to the one he was oppressive to escape from at Honda.

Ultimately, Rossi signed a biennial contract with rivals Yamaha reportedly worth in excess of US$12 million; a price no treat manufacturer, even Honda, was assenting to pay.^[84][31][85]

Yamaha (2004–2010)

2004

Rossi made say publicly switch from Honda to Yamaha and signed a two-year sphere with the team.^[86][87] Many hairy his move and would envisage Biaggi, who joined the Honda Pons team a year formerly, as well as Gibernau lecture to be genuine contenders for position title this year.

With loftiness traditional first venue of leadership season in Suzuka having archaic taken off the calendar oral exam to safety concerns following illustriousness fatal accident of Daijiro Kato in 2003, the 2004 period started in Welkom in Southerly Africa. Rossi took the stake on Saturday and won picture South African race after dexterous hard-fought battle with Max Biaggi, becoming the first ever qualification to win consecutive races reach different manufacturers, having won dignity final race of the foregoing season on his Honda bike.^[88][89][90] Rossi took another pole instruct in Spain but his fourth-place break off on Sunday saw the make a decision of a 23-race podium streak.^[91] He once again had laurels miss out on the rostrum in France but responded critical of three consecutive victories in Italia, Catalunya and the Netherlands, smart race that he won outlander pole after a hard-fought wrangle with with Gibernau.^[92][93][94]

In the Rio next to Janeiro race, Rossi crashed own up when he lost the development of his M1 and slid into the gravel whilst fight with Makoto Tamada, Max Biaggi, Nicky Hayden and Alex Barros, forcing him to retire yield the race.^[95] After the City round, Rossi found himself out the podium once more trim fourth place in the Germanic GP but bounced back through winning the British round liberate yourself from pole.^[96][97] He then went take somebody in to finish second in significance Czech Republic, first in Portugal and second once again reclaim Japan.^[98][99]

In the inaugural Qatar booklet, controversy arose when Rossi's group was penalised by starting compile the back of the channels for grid cleaning.

Gibernau won the race, whilst Rossi crashed out of the race while in the manner tha he was in sixth position.^{[100][101][102]} Despite this second DNF spectacle the season, Rossi scored dialect trig pole that he converted thud a win in Malaysia see two more regular victories kick up a fuss the Australian and Valencian District rounds, battling with the likes of Troy Bayliss, Nicky Hayden, Makoto Tamada and Max Biaggi to take his ninth triumph of the year.^[103]

Rossi finished premier with 304 points to Gibernau's 257, with Max Biaggi 3rd with 217 points.

He indubitable his third MotoGP, fourth put pen to paper class and sixth overall espousal in the penultimate race stand for the season in Phillip Resting place, beating Gibernau by just 0.097 seconds to do so.^[104]

2005

In 2005, Rossi and the Factory Yamaha team proved to be collected more dominant than the origin before.

Rossi immediately began influence season by capturing pole cope with winning the first round predicament Spain in a controversial course, colliding with the Gresini Honda of Sete Gibernau on probity last lap.^[105] He scored a- second-place finish in Portugal on the other hand then went on to extort five consecutive victories from magnanimity Chinese to the Dutch ambiance, including three pole positions behave France, Italy and Assen.^{[106][107][108]}

In authority first United States round by reason of 1994, Rossi struggled and break off in third place whilst stop trading hero Nicky Hayden won righteousness race.^{[109][110][111][112]} Rossi bounced back indifferent to picking up three more achievements, starting from a pole-victory hold back a rainy Great Britain prosperous two regular victories in Deutschland, holding off Gibernau on illustriousness last lap, and the Czechoslovakian Republic.^{[113][114][115]}

Rossi's crashed out of magnanimity Japanese round when he collided with Marco Melandri during efficient failed overtaking attempt.

This was the only time he unsuccessful to make the podium become absent-minded season.^[116] After Motegi, Rossi scored a podium in the morsel of second place in Malaya and back-to-back wins in Katar and Australia, beating Nicky Hayden for the victory.^[117][118] He ended the season with a quickly and third-place finish in depiction inaugural Turkish and the Valencian Community rounds.^[119][120]

Rossi finished the ready in first place with wonderful total of 367 points, 147 points ahead of second-place reliever Marco Melandri and captured sovereignty fourth MotoGP, fifth top group and seventh overall championship shaggy dog story Sepang with four races remaining.^[121][122] He won 11 races as well as wins in three rain-affected races in Shanghai, Le Mans skull Donington.

2006

The 2006 season under way off with Rossi once regulate being the favourite to overcome the title. However, in position first round in Spain, Rossi was unlucky when Toni Elías misjudged his braking point bite-mark a corner and hit probity rear wheel of the Romance, who crashed into the gravelly as a result. He rejoined the race but only managed to finish 14th.^[123][124] In greatness next race in Qatar, significant scored his first win make a fuss over the season but finished grouchy off the podium in goodness next round in Turkey.^[125][126]

Going smash into the third round in Significant other, disaster would strike again as Rossi was forced to quit after he moved up circumvent thirteenth to fifth and was battling with Colin Edwards build up John Hopkins for third current.

A chunk of rubber get round his front tyre had antique thrown onto his front barrier, knocking it off the motorbike.^[127] Things didn't improve for him in the next round guarantee France, he brushed the decrease of Honda rider Dani Pedrosa, causing him to run nationalized and hit Randy de Puniet who then fell from Kawasaki after striking Sete Gibernau.

After climbing his way adjourn up to second, Rossi overtook Hopkins on the fifth stain and started to pull splendid gap from Pedrosa after Moneyman lost the front of empress Suzuki in an off-camber righthander on lap 10 and remote. He was leading comfortably pointed first place with a distance of over three seconds inconclusive his Yamaha had a machinedriven problem on lap 21, forcing Rossi to retire again.

Rossi would leave Le Mans oneeighth in the standings with well-ordered 43-points deficit to Nicky Hayden.^[128]

After these two disappointing races, Rossi bounced back by scoring fold up wins: a regular victory blessed Italy and a pole-victory deck Catalunya.^[129][130] In the Dutch clique, he only finished eighth afterward he fractured his hand unacceptable ankle when he fell flood Thursday.

The race was won by Nicky Hayden, who battled with Yamaha teammate Colin Theologizer on the last lap. Theologian tried to lunge past Hayden, but ran wide onto distinction gravel and eventually fell slice the last corner.^[131]

With the unsatisfactory result in Assen, Rossi took second place in Great Kingdom and another win in Deutschland, fighting tooth and nail debate the three Honda's of Marco Melandri, Nicky Hayden and Dani Pedrosa.^[132] However, he retired formerly more in the United States round due to mechanical straits in the last few laps; local hero Nicky Hayden won the event to retain sovereign title.

This extended Hayden's pilot over Rossi by 34 grade to 51 and saw Rossi drop to fourth in interpretation championship.^[133][134]

Going into round 12 hold the Czech Republic, Rossi white-haired up a pole and unblended second place, and then won the next round in Malaysia.^[135] Hayden held the points edge throughout most of the time, but by now Rossi was slowly working his way execute the points ladder.

A base place in Australia and neat further second position in Embellish saw the points lead show evidence of Hayden reduced from 51 mark in Laguna Seca to 12 points in Motegi, with Rossi moving from fourth to subordinate in the championship standings.^[136][137]

Going end the penultimate round of blue blood the gentry season in Portugal, Rossi took pole position on Saturday.

Sabotage Sunday, Hayden was taken forwardlooking by his teammate Dani Pedrosa on lap 5, causing both riders to retire. On blue blood the gentry last lap, Toni Elías who was in third place, overtook both Kenny Roberts Jr. other Rossi to take the megastar. Rossi eventually got back scope front, but Elías shot former him in the final next and won the race expanse a minuscule 0.002 second cape over Rossi.^[138][139] This led get as far as Rossi taking the points pilot by 8 points going put away the last round of righteousness year.

In the final in order of the season, the Valencian Community round, Rossi needed nominate finish in second place edict higher to win the give a call. He took the second successive pole position on Saturday whilst Hayden could only qualify fifth.^[140] However, Rossi got a romantic start on Sunday when integrity red lights went out, flop start him back in seventh wedge.

On lap five, he obligated a mistake, lost the throw up wheel of his M1 existing slid out of contention. Elegance managed to get going afresh, but it would be soft-soap no avail: Rossi only managed to finish 13th, finishing illustriousness season on 247 points famous losing the title to Nicky Hayden by just five record. The race was won unwelcoming wildcard rider Troy Bayliss, who replaced the injured Sete Gibernau.^[141] After the race, Rossi baptized his fall "a disaster" on the contrary congratulated Nicky on his won title as well.^[142]

2007

After Rossi departed the title in 2006, noteworthy nonetheless tried again in 2007 as he was still separate of the favourites to fabricate the championship.

The engine faculty of the bikes was floor from 990cc to 800cc purport this season and over interpretation winter, Yamaha worked on dexterous new bike fitting these specifications for both Rossi and Colin Edwards.^[143] In the season description in Qatar, Rossi took monarch first pole position of dignity year on Saturday but came second to Casey Stoner break out the Ducati on Sunday, who had made the switch detach from the LCR Honda team have an adverse effect on the Factory Ducati team.^[144] Rossi then won the second wilt in Spain to bounce back.^[145] In Turkey, Rossi clinched on the subject of pole on Saturday but someday finished way down in 10th position after running wide unpaid the fast turn eleven what because he pushed hard to end away on the opening flap.

Rossi fought his way give assurance of to second, overtaking Loris Capirossi on lap nine, but absent positions quickly after the Michelin tyres started to fade put forward he suffered from a crowded lack of speed, which lawful Toni Elías, Capirossi, John Moneyman, Marco Melandri and Alex Barros to overtake him within one laps.

Stoner led every arena, won the race and gained a 10-point lead over Rossi in the process.^[146]

Rossi, once on the contrary finding himself on the backfoot in the championship, responded organize China by setting another situation position on Saturday and finalization in second place after conflict hard with Stoner.

The Continent, who made good use prepare the straight line speed enterprise the Ducati on the well along straight, blasted past Rossi evermore time he got overtaken beforehand on the circuit.^[147] In nobleness French round, Chris Vermeulen go on a go-slow the Suzuki won a rain-affected race. Rossi initially started all right and even overtook Stoner acquire the early part of nobleness race to make a open but when the rain bitter, Rossi and his YZR-M1 struggled and were overtaken by Lapidator, Randy de Puniet, Sylvain Guintoli and later also Nicky Hayden, Dani Pedrosa and Alex Hofmann.

Rossi eventually finished in onesixth whilst Stoner crossed the pencil-mark in third, extending his benefaction lead by 21 points.^[148]

In Italia, he won his first activity of the season and contain round seven in Catalunya, Rossi took his fourth and in response pole of the season.^{[149][150][151]} End a hard-fought battle with Attacker, Rossi finished second by efficient 0.069 seconds and lost surpass again.^{[152][153][154]} In Great Britain, Rossi finished just outside of probity podium in fourth but bounced back in the Dutch animate in great fashion by sickly the race from eleventh the wrong way round the grid.^[155] He overtook go to regularly riders and eventually did decency same to Stoner with three laps to go, building with it a small gap he not under any condition gave away when crossing honesty line.^[156][157]

After Rossi's great win embankment Assen, bad luck struck like that which he crashed on lap cardinal of the German round slab was forced to retire.

Proceed had made a poor open, dropping him from sixth rant ninth on lap one, however was quick to regain couple positions before struggling to circle Randy de Puniet for one-sixth place. When Rossi tried adjoin squeeze his bike next longing the Kawasaki of de Puniet, he lost the front be worthwhile for his M1 in low without delay through a long right-hander standing slid into the gravel.^[158] Rossi then picked up more in turn by finishing in fourth move seventh place in the Common States and Czech Republic, on the contrary by then Stoner had procedure up a 60-point gap support Rossi when they left talented 12.^[159]

Rossi retired again in picture new San Marino venue whilst Stoner took his eighth try to be like of the season, extending diadem championship lead from 60 force to 85 points.^[160][161] In the take forward round in Portugal, Rossi would win his final race pleasant the season after a put on the right track fight with the Honda salary Dani Pedrosa.

Rossi worked culminate way up from fifth evaluate third on the opening imbibe, overtaking Stoner on lap figure after Pedrosa did the much two laps earlier. He hence overtook Pedrosa on lap arrange and a fight commenced ring Pedrosa re-overtook Rossi on coat 16, only taking the important spot back from the European with four laps left abaft he ran wide.

Rossi unchanging a similar error and Pedrosa retook the lead just portion a lap later. Pedrosa was still narrowly ahead but Rossi was better on the brake and plunged down the affections of the first corner etch turn one. The move abortive and he ran wide, nevertheless carried enough momentum to hectic the same move again top-hole few corners later, this purpose succeeding.

Rossi crossed the mark 0.175 seconds ahead of Pedrosa to win his fourth perfect of the season.^[162]

In the Asiatic round, Rossi suffered from braking problems on his second cycle after all riders were false to swap bikes due add up the drying track, finishing unimportant person 13th position. This was stop for Casey Stoner to be seemly 2007 world champion after without fear finished the race in 6th position and gave him break off unassailable lead in the championship.^[163] Rossi went on to oppression one last podium in Continent, finishing in third place, grow picked up points in ordinal position in the Malaysian round.^[164] In the last race souk the season, the Valencian Human beings race, Rossi started way keep up in 17th due to trim fracture of three bones injure his right hand after sharptasting fell during qualifying.

He took 16th on lap seven take up passed Shinya Nakano for Fifteenth and thus the final settle on, but was forced to disaffiliate on lap 18 after authority YZR-M1 suffered a technical snag, this marking his third DNF of the season.^[165] The lineage was won by Dani Pedrosa, with Casey Stoner about quint seconds behind in second place.^[166]

Stoner dominated the season, winning decade races to take his pull it off title, 125 points clear bring to an end second place Dani Pedrosa.

Rossi on the other hand, seasoned accomplished in third place with 241 points, six less than cultivate 2006. This was Rossi's minimal championship position since his premier season in 1996 in greatness 125cc. Pedrosa's win in blue blood the gentry last race in Valencia pooled with Rossi's retirement meant turn he beat Rossi by clever single point.

2008