First
Grand Prix: 1996 Malaysia 125cc
First Pole Position: 1996 Czech Republic 125cc
First Race Fastest Lap: 1996 France 125cc
First Podium: 1996 Austria 125cc
First GP Victory: 1996 Czech Republic 125cc
Grand
Prix Starts 90
500cc Starts 30
250cc Starts 30
125cc Starts 30
Grand
Prix Victories 37
500cc Victories 11
250cc Victories 14
125cc Victories 12
2nd Placements 10
3rd placements 10
Podium
57
Pole Positions 14
Race Fastest Lap 33
World
Championship Wins 3
1997 125cc
1999 250cc
2001 500cc
Total
Points (ongoing streak) 1426
Profile:
Born
February 16, 1979 in Urbino. Son of Graziano Rossi,
who was third in the 1979 250cc World Championship on a Morbidelli.
He begins his sporting career in 1990 in mini-moto competitions.
In
1993 he debuts with Cagiva in the Italian 125cc Sport
Production championship, where he has his first victories, subsequently
taking the title in 1994.
In
1995 he rides in the European Championships as an official
Aprilia rider, finishing the season in third place.
The
very same year he retains his Italian 125cc Championship crown.
1996:
World Championship debut at the 125cc Malaysian GP riding an
Aprilia in Team Scuderia AGV.
Final Championship position: 9th with 111 points
1 victory: Czech Republic
1997:
Becomes second youngest ever 125cc World Champion riding an
Aprilia for the Nastro Azzurro Team.
Final Championship position: 1st with 321 points
11 wins: Malaysia, Spain, Italy, France, Netherlands, Imola,
Germany, Brazil, Great Britain, Catalunya and Indonesia.
1998:
Moves up to 250cc class riding an Aprilia for the Nastro Azzurro
Team.
Final Championship position: 2nd with 201 points
5 wins: Netherlands, Imola, Catalunya, Australia and Argentina.
1999:
Becomes the youngest ever 250cc World Champion riding for the
Aprilia Grand Prix Racing Team.
Final Championship position: 1st with 309 points
9 wins: Spain, Italy, Catalunya, Great Britain, Germany, Czech
Republic, Australia, South Africa and Brazil.
2000:
Moves up to the premier 500cc class riding a Honda for the Nastro
Azzuro Team.
Final Championship position: 2nd with 209 points
2 wins: Great Britain and Brazil
2001:
Takes the 500cc World Championship riding a Honda for the Nastro
Azzuro Team.
Final Championship position: 1st - 275 points after 14 of 16
rounds.
9 wins: Japan, South Africa, Spain, Catalunya, Great Britain,
Czech Republic, Portugal, Pacific and Australia.
Other
facts about Rossi's career:
Rossi
is the youngest ever rider to win titles in three different
classes. The only other two riders to win titles in three classes
are Phil Read (125, 250, 500) and Mike Hailwood (250, 350, 500)
Rossi
is the fourth youngest rider ever to win the 500cc title after
Freddie Spencer, Mike Hailwood and John Surtees.
Rossi
has won 37 Grand Prix races before the age of 23. This is far
more than any other rider in the 53 year history of the World
Championship series, the second best being Loris Capirossi who
won 15 Grand Prix before the age of 23.
Rossi
has won nine races during 2001. Only two riders, Mick Doohan
and Giacomo Agostini, have won more races in the 500 class in
a single season.