Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

INTERVIEW Valentino Rossi in beach gear and sandals, wearing costumes ranging from Robin Hood to Superman, and toting an inflatable doll on the pillion, dressed as supermodel Claudia Schiffer (a dig at arch-enemy Max Biaggi, who was at the time conorting with aomi Campbell). He switched directly to the 250cc class, on a factory Aprilia. Although in the silver-blue colors of astro AZZUITO rather than the black of Aprilia Racing, 28 and (Mirko) Giansanti. Locatelli and Scalvini are also going well. Is the 250cc class easier than you expected? Two-fifty is good. But there is a big difference Aprilia to Honda this year. They have some good riders - Aoki, Perugini, Jacque and Ukawa. But luckily the Honda is not very fast. (huge grin) But the three riders of Aprilia are not so bad also. motor show with my friends- a Ruud Gullit wig and dark glasses. We saw lots of teenage girls chasing you at Mugello. Do you have much trouble with these fans? I have very much young girl fans. She makes very... (makes a "chee-chee-cheechee-chee" sound, waving his arms in the air and screeching). I don't like this. But that's how it is. Anyway - I like fans who like bikes, not only me. it is a full works team. And this time he needed no learning year. At tests, he was breaking lap records; and from the second race onward he has been a candidate for victory - though that first 250cc-class win remained elusive for the first five races. We caught up with Rossi in the Paul Ricard paddock. Suffering from a heavy cold and a fever, he was waiting outside Dr. Claudio Costa's clinic, eating pasta a rather reluctant interviewee. All i'lround him on the table were portions of a very streaky and gruesome-looking raw ham. I looked at them ':Yith a grimace of horror. "That must have been a big one," I said. "Who is it?" Rossi looked puzzled for a fraction of a second, then threw his head back with a screech of laughter. We were off on the right foot. Have you been surprised by your success on the 25O? A little bit, yes. But the style of riding a 250 is not so different from a 125 - only the speed and the weight of the bike are different. I like very much the bike from the beginning. I was able to go fast after two or three tests. Luckily. Do you still watch the 125 races? I always watch the 125s. Is the class easier now you're gone? I think no. There are four or five riders who are very fast. But one less than last year. Ueda, Sakata and Manako are there, but now arrive (Marco) Melandri Was the 125 exp~rience important for you 'as a learner GP rider? Would you recommend that other riders do the same? Very important, to learn. It is the class with the most hard battles. And it's very, very funny in the 125s. And you learn the right style to ride a 250. What about if you want to ride a 5OO? I think it is not so different. But, of course, a 500 is incredible. Two hundred horsepower! 1don't know... I never rode one. Did you ever ride Aprilia's V-twin 5OO? ever. In the fu ture, I would like to go to 500. But before that it is necessary to win the 250 titie. Aprilia is developing its own V-four 500. Will this be the bike for you? Tha t is something for the future. It's a long way in the future. I don't know. ow, it is necessary to have a Honda. Has your life changed much in the last two years? It has changed in the normal way, from 17 years old to 19 years old. But there's not a big change - I still stay at home, live with my mother. My friends are the same, and I do the same things. But when I go to the disco now, people like to touch me and ask for autographs. It's bad. But also it's good. Another good thing is w hen I go to buy something, I pay nothing. They won't take money. I am very famous in Italy, which is good and funny. But it is hard. Once I put on a disguise to go to the Bologna Max Biaggi says he never talks about motorcycles or racing when he is away from the track. Is it the same for you? No. For me, I speak about bikes and racing with my good friends, like always. But not with people who break your balls, who want to talk about the same thing all the time. How are you technically? Can you fix a broken gearbox? Do you understand about suspension? I'm not SO bad, but I need more experience. I can do mechanical things. Your father, Graziano, comes with you to the GPs but stays in the background. What is his role? He works for me. He tries to keep me calm. He doesn't make much pressure· but a little. At GPs, it is necessary for me to stay alone. I am more calm in this way. Does he talk to you about riding? Yes, but for me, riding the bike is an amusement. After that, it is work, and then I think about the money. If I can continue in this way, for me that is okay. But when it is not fun any more, if the work or the money is more important, then maybe I'd just say, "Ciao." It's very important to me to play, because I am very young. What do you like playing at? Going to the beach with my friends. Riding motocross. Saturday night dance. Play, and games. To keep off the pressure. Now I am playing a lot with radiocontrolled cars - racing in competition. I (Top) Like father, like son: Rossi's father, Graziano, was quite the cut-up during a sucessful GP career that Included three 250cc wins and a few podium finishes In the 500cc class. (Above) Rossi says that he has had little difficulty In adapting to the more powerful 250cc machinery. He feels that a 250cc World Championship Is a necessary credential for graduating to the 500cc class. like the (Sony) Play Station, too, an computer games. What's your favorite game at th moment? Tomb Raider. With Lara Croft. She' very famous. Also all the driving games. What did you want to be when you I school? Were you good at school? I hoped I'd be a professional rider. never wanted a smooth, normal life. wasn't so bad at school, but I was no interested. Were you good at sport? I played football and tennis. But no very good! What's your perfect girl Iike? Hah! She must be very nice, and happy I like blondes. The physical look i important, but I don't like stupid girls She must have a good sense of humor And not break your baIls. She must very... easy. I don't mean easy for sex but easy for life. I like to be happy the time.

• Cover