Yamaha hail Valentino Rossi’s double century

Yamaha bosses have hailed Italian Valentino Rossi after he made his 200th world championship appearance in last weekend’s British GP.

Valentino Rossi heads into this weekend’s Dutch GP at Assen holding an 11-point lead over closest rival Dani Pedrosa, startng his third century of races in Holland in confident mood having claimed seven successive podium finishes on the his Fiat Yamaha.

Yamaha boss Davide Brivio though reckons it is the longevity of Rossi’s career that will make him stand out as one of the greatest riders in history.

Brivio told MCN: “Apart from the first races of 1996 when he was a rookie in 125s they were 200 races where he was always at the top and this is amazing. He always started a race with the possiiblty to win so that’s amazing to have such a long career always at the top.

“Some riders get to 200 races but maybe with up and down results. Valentino is almost close to 50 per of wins. To win nearly 50 per cent of the races you enter over such a long time is amazing.”