In an unprecedented gesture, Honda gave the green light to the special request made by Dorna in mid-2021, when the promoter of the MotoGP world championship requested the transfer of the motorcycles with which Valentino Rossi was world champion, to exhibit them during the Valencia Grand Prix , the Italian’s last race before his retirement.
The maneuver was neither easy nor cheap and was surrounded by arduous negotiations. Honda put some conditions for the transport of the three bikes with which Rossi was proclaimed world champion in 2001, 2002 and 2003, and the premise that the prototypes should return safely to their usual location in the Honda Collection Hall .
The surprise jumped, however, when on November 11, the Thursday before the Valencia Grand Prix , Valentino uncovered one by one the nine motorcycles with which he was proclaimed world champion throughout his career and which had been transferred by the respective manufacturers: Aprilia, Yamaha and Honda itself .
A person in charge of each manufacturer was present at the event, Alberto Puig being the Honda ambassador. In the middle of the event, Rossi explained that he had in his house all the motorcycles with which he had been champion, except the Hondas, and took the opportunity to demand from Puig the promise made by the manufacturer to give him the prototype with which he won the 2011 World Championship. , the last in the history of the 500cc.
“I spoke with Alberto and asked him for at least the 500, also because that bike is mine,” Rossi said that day. “That motorcycle was supposed to be given to me by Honda and I already had everything ready to receive it, I already had the place at home”.
However the yellow NSR 500 with the 46 on the dome from 2001 never made it to Tavullia.
Photo de: Marlboro Yamaha Team
Photo de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
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Photo de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
“For some reason the bike never arrived. I would be very happy if Honda changes its mind and gives it to me. It is clear that I will keep the bike well, at a good temperature and it will have a prominent place in my house,” added the Italian, who after four years in Honda left in the direction of Yamaha ending their relationship in a less than cordial way.
The same weekend in Valencia, Alberto Puig responded to Valentino’s unexpected request.
“This bike is also very important to us and we have it in the museum. Honda is very proud of all the titles won, also of those that Valentino achieved with our bikes. We want to have it as a trophy in our house, to show the fans that we were able to win the title with that bike”, the Catalan settled the question.
Rossi, who retired that same Sunday and was named MotoGP Legend in Valencia, remained hopeful that Honda would make a final gesture, but as Motorsport.com has been able to confirm, the three bikes that traveled from Tokyo to Valencia returned before the last ones. Christmas in perfect condition, and can already be seen in the spectacular Honda Collection Hall in Motegi.
The champion motorcycles with Valentino
125cc World Champion 1997 Aprilia RS125
250cc World Champion 1999 Aprilia RS250
2001 Honda NSR500 500cc World Champion
2002 MotoGP World Champion Honda RC211V
2003 MotoGP World Champion Honda RC211V
2004 MotoGP World Champion Yamaha YZR M1
2005 MotoGP World Champion Yamaha YZR M1
2008 MotoGP World Champion Yamaha YZR M1
2009 MotoGP World Champion Yamaha YZR M1
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Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
