Post by idontknowwhat on Oct 21, 2004 23:53:18 GMT -5
What a show, Rossi wins again
By Dan Oakes
Phillip Island
October 18, 2004
The moment Valentino Rossi crossed the finish line there was an expectation in the air. How would the crown prince (or should that be emperor?) of MotoGP mark his glorious and improbable world championship win?
This is a man who was reprimanded for perching somebody on the back of his bike when celebrating a victory and responded after his next win by doing the same thing with a person dressed as a chicken, saying nobody mentioned chickens.
It was a more restrained Rossi who celebrated his knife-edge win over Sete Gibernau. But his behaviour still showed why the little Italian is a breath of fresh air in a world increasingly dominated by homogeneous, wall-eyed sportspeople.
Any thoughts of a lap of honour yesterday were dashed when the 25-year-old Honda rider was mobbed immediately by photographers who seemed motivated as much as anything by unrestrained joy at his win, slapping him on the back and shouting congratulations.
By this time, the crowd had poured over the safety barriers - despite the entreaties of the track announcer - and surged towards the podium, coming to rest behind a low wall separating the pits and the track. Inside the wall were the insiders - family, friends and hangers-on.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Somewhere between where his bike came to rest and the podium, Rossi had slipped a T-shirt over his leathers and donned a new helmet, both sporting "Che Spettacolo!" or "What a show!", the slogan of his large and loud fan club.
Rossi, a small, wiry, charismatic bundle of energy, walked around beaming, dispensing hugs and readily giving interviews to TV crews from all over the world. When he eventually ascended to the podium, one glowing female journalist was left clutching his gloves.
When he was introduced and strode out to take his place between a stern-faced Gibernau and a smiling Loris Capirossi, the cry of "Che Spettacolo!" went up and he kissed his helmet and held it aloft. Seconds later, it was the winner's trophy he was brandishing even more vigorously.
The traditional champagne celebration was turned on its head as Rossi swigged from the magnum and then lowered it into the upraised hands of his fans, some of whom, mostly big, hairy men, were crying. When he heaved his helmet deep into the crowd (something he said later he had been planning for some time to do at Phillip Island) it seemed there was serious potential for injury, but as somebody wearing it later bobbed up on some shoulders above the crowd, it seemed no harm was done.
Later, Rossi demonstrated his willfulness and eccentricity by categorically ruling out swapping his No. 46 for the No. 1 traditionally worn by the world champion. Not even the fact that next year is Yamaha's 50th birthday would sway him. "No. For sure no," he said.
The last words Rossi said to the assembled journalists before he disappeared into the twilight, signing autographs for the hacks as he went, were emblematic of the approach to life that endears him to MotoGP fans. When asked what people in his home town would be doing in the wake of his victory, he replied: "Make a big party, I think. But unfortunately we is 'ere!"
HOW THEY FINISHED
Australian Grand Prix, Phillip Island.
1. Valentino Rossi (Ita) Yamaha 41 minutes 25.819 seconds.
2. Sete Gibernau (Spa) Honda 41:25.916.
3. Loris Capirossi (Ita) Ducati 41:36.305.
4. Colin Edwards (US) Honda 41:36.636.
5. Alex Barros (Bra) Honda 41:36.670.
World championship standings:
1. Rossi 279.
2. Gibernau 244.
3. Biaggi 197.
4. Barros 155.
5. Edwards 149.
theage.com.au/articles/2004/10/17/1097951556211.html
By Dan Oakes
Phillip Island
October 18, 2004
The moment Valentino Rossi crossed the finish line there was an expectation in the air. How would the crown prince (or should that be emperor?) of MotoGP mark his glorious and improbable world championship win?
This is a man who was reprimanded for perching somebody on the back of his bike when celebrating a victory and responded after his next win by doing the same thing with a person dressed as a chicken, saying nobody mentioned chickens.
It was a more restrained Rossi who celebrated his knife-edge win over Sete Gibernau. But his behaviour still showed why the little Italian is a breath of fresh air in a world increasingly dominated by homogeneous, wall-eyed sportspeople.
Any thoughts of a lap of honour yesterday were dashed when the 25-year-old Honda rider was mobbed immediately by photographers who seemed motivated as much as anything by unrestrained joy at his win, slapping him on the back and shouting congratulations.
By this time, the crowd had poured over the safety barriers - despite the entreaties of the track announcer - and surged towards the podium, coming to rest behind a low wall separating the pits and the track. Inside the wall were the insiders - family, friends and hangers-on.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Somewhere between where his bike came to rest and the podium, Rossi had slipped a T-shirt over his leathers and donned a new helmet, both sporting "Che Spettacolo!" or "What a show!", the slogan of his large and loud fan club.
Rossi, a small, wiry, charismatic bundle of energy, walked around beaming, dispensing hugs and readily giving interviews to TV crews from all over the world. When he eventually ascended to the podium, one glowing female journalist was left clutching his gloves.
When he was introduced and strode out to take his place between a stern-faced Gibernau and a smiling Loris Capirossi, the cry of "Che Spettacolo!" went up and he kissed his helmet and held it aloft. Seconds later, it was the winner's trophy he was brandishing even more vigorously.
The traditional champagne celebration was turned on its head as Rossi swigged from the magnum and then lowered it into the upraised hands of his fans, some of whom, mostly big, hairy men, were crying. When he heaved his helmet deep into the crowd (something he said later he had been planning for some time to do at Phillip Island) it seemed there was serious potential for injury, but as somebody wearing it later bobbed up on some shoulders above the crowd, it seemed no harm was done.
Later, Rossi demonstrated his willfulness and eccentricity by categorically ruling out swapping his No. 46 for the No. 1 traditionally worn by the world champion. Not even the fact that next year is Yamaha's 50th birthday would sway him. "No. For sure no," he said.
The last words Rossi said to the assembled journalists before he disappeared into the twilight, signing autographs for the hacks as he went, were emblematic of the approach to life that endears him to MotoGP fans. When asked what people in his home town would be doing in the wake of his victory, he replied: "Make a big party, I think. But unfortunately we is 'ere!"
HOW THEY FINISHED
Australian Grand Prix, Phillip Island.
1. Valentino Rossi (Ita) Yamaha 41 minutes 25.819 seconds.
2. Sete Gibernau (Spa) Honda 41:25.916.
3. Loris Capirossi (Ita) Ducati 41:36.305.
4. Colin Edwards (US) Honda 41:36.636.
5. Alex Barros (Bra) Honda 41:36.670.
World championship standings:
1. Rossi 279.
2. Gibernau 244.
3. Biaggi 197.
4. Barros 155.
5. Edwards 149.
theage.com.au/articles/2004/10/17/1097951556211.html
