VOL. 53 ISSUE 33 AUGUST 23, 2016 P33
20 YEARS FOR VALENTINO
R
ace eve in Brno was 20 years to the day since Valentino Rossi
won his first GP, in the 125 class. Since then he has won an-
other 113 races in 341 starts, along with nine championships, all
but two in the premier class. And he has astonished the world of
racing by maintaining his competitive edge and motivation over
two decades.
Aside from a two-year hiatus with Ducati, Rossi (now 37 years
old) has won races every year, and last year came within an ace
of winning the title.
There has been no let-up of effort this year, but the results
have been harder to come by.
"It's the opposite of last year—good in qualifying and practice,
with more times on the front row, but more problems in the race.
"We still have a good potential but we made some mistakes,
so it's a pity but in the championship we are quite far."
Asked what he would be doing in another 20 years, he re-
sponded, "I will be very old, but I hope I will still be racing. Not
in MotoGP, but something easier. Like a car."
Michael Scott
Twenty years ago, Valentino Rossi
took this win, his very first, at Brno.
MILLSAPS IS CHAMP!
D
avi Millsaps is the 2016 MX1 Canadi-
an Motocross Champion. The KTM
Canada Thor Racing Team rider wrapped
it up at the final round at RJ Motosport
Park in Barrie, Ontario, August 14.
Millsaps needed just five points to se-
cure the title, which he managed to do
in the first moto when he took sixth after
crashing. In the crash, Millsaps tweaked
his wrist and sat out the second moto.
The day's victory went to Yamaha
rider Matt Goerke.
Millsaps finished out the season with
a comfortable 16-point advantage over
Goerke, while Kaven Benoit (KTM) took
the bronze medal in third.
Fourth in the championship went to Brett Met-
calfe (Yamaha), while American Mike Alessi (Ka-
wasaki) finished out the Canadian season in fifth.
Cole Thompson took the MX2 title. CN
Davi Millsaps (center) celebrates the 2016 MX1
Canadian Motocross Championship alongside Matt
Georke (left) and Kaven Benoit (right).
