Throwback…Monday! Rossi sports 1996 replica lid at Sepang

Nine-time World Champion switches from his Huichol-inspired winter testing helmet to something a little more familiar

Way back when there was a young rider from Tavullia just starting his career. Getting ready to take on the world, Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) would go on to fight that fight and win it nine times…so far, at least. But even back then, the Italian had some distinctive signs of the personality he would become – including the sun and moon logos he still wears today. They were the basis of his 1996 helmet, and the ‘Doctor’ went back to basics at testing on Monday as he showed off an updated version of that very same lid.


Stepping away from the Huichol art of his previously-revealed winter testing helmet, Rossi went back to the beginning in style and the design is just as good today as it was then. A point to be made, perhaps, as the Italian enters his 23rd season of competition and is still racing and winning at 38.

Valentino Rossi: "I'm happy about the second day because we worked well and finished our programme for today. We tried some big and small details and some things were good and some things were less good. For example, I like the aerodynamics, and I was able to improve my pace and lap times. I think I did my personal best here in Sepang today because a 1'59.3s is good. It's very tight, all the top riders are very strong, so that will be interesting. I'm very happy to be there at the front. I like the fairing more than last year's because I have more protection and - because I'm a bit big and tall - that's what I need, so that's good. The ducts - that are not wings - are good because the bike has less wheelie and that gives us more front contact. It looks like we're also quite fast in the straight and so it was a good day."