In matters of taste there are no possible arguments, but the Italian champion�s figures demonstrate that he is the most effective rider in the modern era, that is to say, since the World Championship is made up of three categories: 125cc, 250cc and MotoGP/500cc. Referring only to the top category, Rossi is the rider with the highest percentage of victories (34/65, 52.3%), of podiums (55/65, 84.6%), of points obtained (1 271 in 65 GP�s, 19.55 pts.) and third in pole positions of all time (21/65, 32.3%).

 

In case that sounds poor, at Welkom Valentino became the first rider in the history of the WSC to win two GP races consecutively on different bikes and the first rider in the whole history of Yamaha in the top category (since 1973) to get onto the podium in the South African GP. His triumph at Welkom means that he passes Giacomo Agostini in the number of consecutive podiums (23) and he equals Barry Sheene (1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979) as winner of the opening race of the championship in four consecutive years.

 

Perhaps this season he will not be able to win races with the ease that he did it these last two years and he will have to work extra hard to take Yamaha to the world title, but the exhibition that Rossi gave in the first race says a lot about his talent and the level that he has managed to take Yamaha tio at the beginning of the season. The great challenge that the Italian champion is chasing is to emulate to Eddie Lawson, who was World Champion in 1988 with Yamaha and then the following year with Honda.