MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi: The Biggest Star Visit India

India Yamaha Motor Pvt. Ltd. underscored its leadership in global motorsports by bringing Valentino Rossi, the biggest star the sport has ever seen, to India. This is their latest initiative to underscore India's significance in their global plans after the launch of internationally popular models such as VMAX (1,679cc), YZF-R1 (998cc) and MT01 (1,670cc). The global star was presented along with Indian biking icon and India Yamaha's brand ambassador John Abraham in an interesting conversation where Rossi talked about his special relationship with Yamaha. Rossi earlier visited Auto Expo on January 9th to meet with his fans and look at Yamaha’s exciting motorcycle range on display at company's stall.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Yukimine Tsuji, CEO & Managing Director, said, "It is a great moment for India Yamaha Motor to welcome Valentino Rossi to the country. Globally we are a brand known for Motor Sports and we have already initiated the racing culture in India. We are now looking forward to replicate the motor sporting culture in a bigger manner in India. Valentino Rossi is an icon of international sport and in his first visit to India, millions of Indian fans have shown how much they are involved with the sport by their enthusiastic response to his visit. The amount of excitement we witnessed here has surpassed anything we have ever experienced here".

India Yamaha's brand ambassador, John Abraham said, "I have been the biggest fan of Valentino Rossi and ardent follower of his racing career. I still remember meeting him at Brno Grand Prix in 2005 and it is a pleasure to meet the icon again. It is this motor sporting culture and excitement that strengthens my association with the brand. It feels great to co-endorse the brand with the most famous biking legend. My association with Yamaha is truly a special one and I look forward to work closely with the brand".

These are exciting times at Yamaha, with the company going aggressive with its growth strategy for India and leaving no stone unturned in taking biking culture to the next level and Rossi's visit is a step towards this direction.

Rossi's World Championship debut came at the Malaysian Grand Prix in 1996 and he finished his first international season in 9th place with one race win. He became the youngest ever rider in 1997 to take the 125cc World Championship, winning eleven races along the way with Aprilia.

Rossi made history by moving to Yamaha in 2004 and winning the season-opening Grand Prix. He went on to win nine out of 16 races, clinching the World Championship, Yamaha’s first for 12 years, with victory at the penultimate Grand Prix in Phillip Island. He dominated the 2005 season by winning 11 races and helping Yamaha win the Manufacturers and Team titles. In 2006, Rossi took five race wins and five pole positions, more than any other rider. With 9 wins, 16 podiums (both breaking records) and his eighth crown, his sixth in the category with Yamaha YZR-M1, Rossi, popularly known as The Doctor established himself as the greatest ever MotoGP racer in 2008. Rossi cemented his place in the history of Grand Prix Motorcycle Racing in 2009 with seventh title in the premier class and fourth for Yamaha, more than any other manufacturer.

Racing has been in the heart of Yamaha ever since the company was formed in 1955. Yamaha has also set a number of milestones in the racing world, becoming the first Japanese manufacturer to win a 500cc Grand Prix (with Jarno Saarinen in 1973) and the first Japanese company to win the 500cc world title, with Giacomo Agostini in 1975, the first time a two-stroke machine had won in the premier class. After pioneering a generation of two-stroke racers, Yamaha is using the new generation four-stroke machines that Stefan Everts has dominated world championship motocross, winning six titles between 2001 and 2006.

Courtesy: India YAMAHA Motor Pvt. Ltd