Vale Rossi, “say 33!”. Congratulations champion!

Tuesday 14 February was his name day, Thursday 16 February, however, is his birthday, but he is keen to underline, and does so personally on his Twitter profile, that the name does not derive from the traditional celebration of lovers but “from a friend of Graziano's (the father, ed.) who passed away when they were children”. This is Valentino Rossi, the Doctor, born in Urbino on 16 February 1979, exactly 33 years ago, one of the most representative Italian sportsmen, most loved and, above all, successful.

In fact, he is the only rider in the history of motorcycling to have won the World Championship in four different classes: champion in 125, 250 and 500 once, but six successes in MotoGP. Of the premier class he is the king, you can love him, hate him, but you cannot deny him. Vale is one of the most successful riders in the world championship where he also holds the record for the greatest number of grand prix contested consecutively: the rider from Tavullia has 228 appearances.

Son of art, his father, in fact, was a world championship racer in the 70s, he began driving as a child, first trying his hand on go-karts, then with minibikes and entered the Sport Production championship at 14 years old on Cagiva Mito 125. It made its debut in 125 in 1996 on Aprilia, then move on to Honda and Yamaha where he remained for six years, before landing in Ducati last year. And after the disappointments of last season, Rossi is now looking for redemption. A subdued 2011 for Vale who for the first time in his career did not win a grand prix during the season and lost his great friend, the unforgettable Marco Simoncelli, victim of an accident in which the Doctor is also involved.

Rossi, someone who is not used to losing and who now has a terrible desire to go back and savor the flavor of those victories that made him great, has a desire for revenge. The season has yet to begin, good luck Vale and best wishes from the bottom of my heart, champion.