Valentino Rossi: Who’s The Doctor?

Paul Carruthers | July 18, 2013

PHOTOGRAPHY BY GOLD & GOOSE
MONTEREY, CA, JULY 18 – Valentino Rossi is known around the world as “The Doctor.” Ironically, the American doctor who will examine both Dani Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo to see if they are fit to ride in tomorrow’s first practice for the Red Bull United States Grand Prix also goes by the Rossi moniker. As in Dr. Raymond Rossi.

When the nine-time World Champion was told of this, he laughed and shook his head. When asked if he was the Dr. Rossi who would do the examination, Rossi had the pressroom in laughter with his response.

“For me they are clearly unfit,” Rossi said.

When questioned if he knew Dr. Rossi, he said: “I think is my uncle, I don’t know.”

But back to the serious subject of motorcycle racing, Rossi spoke of his memories of his first race at Laguna Seca in 2005.

“We did longer practice, like one hour and a half,” Rossi said. “I think it was the one time that we had the extension [longer practice] to understand. For sure the bikes were very different, less electronics, more with the throttle. Also the tires were very different. In the beginning it difficult to remember especially and understand the right moment to brake for the blind corners. I always try every weekend to follow Nicky [Hayden], but there was no way because he would stop. And in the race there was no way to beat him. Anyway, is good memory.”

Paul Carruthers | Editor

Paul Carruthers took over as the editor of Cycle News in 1993 after serving as associate editor since starting his career at the publication in 1985. Carruthers has covered every facet of the sport in his near-28-year tenure at America's Daily Motorcycle News Source.