You will have seen Valentino Rossi at his last MotoGP race in Valencia, surrounded by 9 of his master bikes – a wonderful moment.
But there was one bike in that crowd that got a slightly bigger reaction from the doctor. One that he can’t quite get his hands on …
We’re talking about the Honda NSR500 from his 2001 championship season with Honda. The last two-stroke MotoGP winning motorcycle Rossi has ever ridden. Sitting on it in Valencia reportedly sparked a desire to add the 2001 award-winning machine to their collection – a collection that is reportedly quite extensive.
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Since the NSR500 holds a high place in Rossi’s heart in 2001, he started his second season with Honda in the top racing class (then in the 500cc class) with a championship victory. There is no other like it, and it is literally a machine that cannot be bought.
After completing a trilogy of victories with Honda, he bravely moved on to rival Yamaha in 2004 … which is in part one of the reasons Honda adheres to this NSR500.
Valentino Rossi – “that 500 are my 500”
Rossi even had a place warm and ready for his arrival, assuming he would join his other machines in his “secret archive” – but he never arrived!
In an interview with Autosport, Rossi said:
“I talk to Alberto and have asked for – at least – the 500, also because these 500 are my 500.”
“It’s the bike Honda was supposed to give me and I was ready to take it, I already had the seat at home” [for it]… but for some reason the bike never arrived. I am happy when Honda changes the idea and gives it to me.
“The bike will certainly stay good, have a good temperature and have a good place in my home.”
While he’s (arguably) one of the most popular MotoGP riders of all time, some of his critics could be part of the Big Red Wing, especially after his alleged kick-out at Marquez in 2015.
Honda team principal Alberto Puig said the following about the NSR500:
“Well, it’s a tricky story… so I can’t answer, but this bike is very important to us too because we have it in a museum. Honda is very proud of the titles we have won and also the titles Valentino has brought together for us … so I’m sure we want this to be a very important trophy in our house to show off to our fans that we were able to win this title with this motorcycle. “
So the bike is likely to stay with Honda, and given the story between the two, the 2001 title-winning machine is unlikely to switch allegiances.
More quotes on autosport.
Source: superbikeplanet, webbikeworld