Valentino Rossi has always been known for his flamboyant personality and showmanship during his time in the premier class, but according to Mick Doohan, there was a much more focused side to him away from the cameras.
Rossi remains one of the most recognisable faces in Grand Prix motorcycle racing, with a legacy that continues to resonate throughout MotoGP.
With seven premier class titles to his name, Rossi is firmly established as one of the sport’s all-time greats. Many current riders grew up watching him, and he’s often their pick when asked about their childhood favourites.
Rossi’s rivalries were a major part of his career and added plenty of drama to the sport. Despite always seeming relaxed and approachable off track, he was intensely competitive once the racing started.
Mick Doohan says Valentino Rossi was “100%” switched on before every race
While Rossi’s public persona was always light-hearted and playful, Mick Doohan got an up-close look at how focused he could be. During their time together at Honda early in Rossi’s career, Doohan noticed a switch would flip whenever race day rolled around.
The Aussie remembers how sharp and prepared Rossi was before races. It wasn’t just raw talent—he also put in plenty of hard work behind the scenes. Even though they only overlapped briefly at Honda, it left an impression on Doohan.
“It wasn’t just pure speed; it was thought-out.” explained Doohan when discussing his first impressions of a young Rossi coming through into MotoGP with Crash.net.
“He had everything put together because by that stage I’d already won four championships so you had access to all these things that you needed or wanted within reason without being unreasonable…”
Pedro Acosta draws comparisons to Valentino Rossi, says Neil Hodgson
While Rossi stands alone in many respects, his impact on the next generation of MotoGP talent is obvious.
The Italian was unmatched in close racing situations, and Neil Hodgson recently pointed out that he sees a similar level of tenacity in Pedro Acosta early on in his career.
Acosta has a good relationship with Rossi, and given the expectations around the Spaniard’s future in MotoGP, it’s no surprise that the Italian has made several attempts to bring him into the VR46 fold.
But for those hoping to see Acosta with VR46, it looks like he’s heading elsewhere. Recent reports suggest that he has agreed to join Ducati and lead their factory team starting in 2027.
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