His sporting achievements are too numerous to mention here . But the highlights include two world championships in the junior classes with Aprilia ( he won the 125cc title at a canter in 1997 , the 250cc crown two years later in 1999 ) as well as the last ever 500cc title in 2001 . That he achieved it after a bitter year-long battle with great foe Max Biaggi simply added to his legend . By then Rossi was only getting started . He won two further MotoGP™ titles for Honda in 2002 and 2003 aboard its peerless RC211V , at the beginning of the all-new four-stroke era .
Then came a defining achievement . Bored at the ease with which he was winning , as well as frustrated by the perception he was only doing so because of the superiority of his Honda machinery , Rossi embarked on a mammoth challenge for 2004 : bring Yamaha , a factory in the doldrums , back to the top aboard its uncompetitive M1 .
He attacked the challenge with relish , overcoming Sete Gibernau in another year-long slog to win the title with a race to spare . He became only the second rider in history – along with Eddie Lawson – to win back-to-back titles for different manufacturers . He added another in 2005 for good measure . Then , after missing the title narrowly in 2006 then again in 2007 , he switched tyre suppliers – from Michelin to Bridgestone – to take on a new generation of talent , stronger and faster than the last . His titles in 2008 and 2009 also rank among his very best .
Asked recently about the great achievements of his time as a Grand Prix rider , Rossi said , “ During my long career I had a lot of difficult moments but the moments that defined me , that are unforgettable ? I want to say there are 3 championships that are the most important in my career : 2001 when I won the last 500 championship ; 2004 when I won the first year with Yamaha .
“ And also 2008 , because already then I was old and finished because after five championships in a row , I lost for two years . So usually in a normal career it ’ s over . But changing to Bridgestone tyres I was able to come back to the top and fight with ( Jorge ) Lorenzo , ( Casey ) Stoner and ( Dani ) Pedrosa and win another two championships . I think these are the most important moments of my career .”
After losing his title in 2010 , Rossi endured two dispiriting and unsuccessful years with Ducati . But a return to Yamaha in 2013 revitalised him and his riding . By 2015 he was challenging for the title again , this time with Lorenzo . A bitter rivalry spilled over at the end of the year , and Rossi missed out , one great regret he still carries to this day .
“ Regrets about choices , sincerely I don ’ t have any . For example racing with Ducati was very difficult for me because we don ’ t win . But anyway it was a great challenge . Italian rider , Italian bike , if we were able to win it would be historic . I am a little bit sad not to win the tenth championship , especially because I think I deserve , for my level and my speed . I lost two times in the last race ( in 2006 and 2015 ). So I think I deserve ten . But anyway it ’ s like this . I can ’ t complain about the results of my career .”
Valentino : Calling it time | 49 Season Preview | MotoGP TM | 49