MotoGP – Preview Brno – Valentino Rossi, the “Straccia Record”

In addition to matching Mike Hailwood's record of 76 GP victories, only the legendary Giacomo Agostani and Angel Nieto have a better record, Valentino Rossi is one step away from equaling last season's record of nine victories - already It is a figure never achieved by a Yamaha rider in the premier class. The Italian has also, five times, equaled Agostani's record of eight top-flight victories in a season. A further victory will make him the first driver to have achieved nine victories in the season five times.

“Breaking records isn't the most important thing, but I'm happy to have the same number of victories as 'Mike the Bike',” said Rossi, who recently extended his contract with Yamaha until the end of the 2006 season “I never saw him race, but they tell me he was one of the best, perhaps the best ever. Now I find myself on the podium of the greatest winners in history and it is obviously a great pleasure.”
Rossi achieved his first victory in Brno, in 1996, when he was racing in the 125, in a race in which, for the first time in his career, he started from pole position. Since that time, another three of his 76 victories have come on the Brno circuit; among these, two MotoGP races from the 2001 and 2003 seasons. A result that he would like to repeat this year, also to make up for the disappointment of last year's failed victory.

“We really needed these holidays because the first part of the season was very hard and we all needed to rest! I won some races, but they were all very tough battles and almost always against a different rival. Each of the seven remaining races will be a new challenge, but this year I really want to beat my record of 11 victories.
“Brno is definitely not one of my favorite tracks, but I have had some memorable races at this circuit in the past, particularly two years ago. It is a fast track, but with many corners, and also has many uphill and downhill areas and even some bucking areas. Last year the Yamaha went quite well, but I lost a bit too much in acceleration at the beginning and also something in braking towards the end and it was therefore impossible to beat Gibernau. This year the bike is much better so I hope for a different result!”

Yamaha MotoGP