#rossifumi

[bikefuckersoftheworldunite]

If you ever wondered why Valentino Rossi nicknamed himself 'Rossifumi' in his long- haired, fairing-banging days in the smaller classes then you need look no further than Norifumi Abe's now-legendary stint at the front of his debut grand prix at Suzuka in 1994.

Fresh from winning his national championship, Abe was catapulted into the international spotlight with a wild-card ride that drew gasps from racing fans around the world. At just 18-years of age, the Japanese rider seemed completely at ease mixing it with two riders who had won 34 500cc grands prix and a world championship between them at that time.

Not only was there a new name but a new style to admire too. Much of Abe's riding under braking was done perched precariously over the front of the motorcycle, his midriff arched upright over the fuel tank as he laid the bike on its side. The long, flowing hair protruding from the multi- coloured Shoei added to the image of a rider who held a blithe disregard for the reputations in front of him.

Valentino on watching Suzuka 1994: Abe had long straight hair and even when he was standing still, he looked like a great character. But most of all, he rode like a madman. He was absolutely fearless….I got up every morning at 7 a.m. to watch the replays of that race in Suzuka. Every single morning, for two whole months.

Abe quit Honda several months later and went on to race twice that season - at Brno and Laguna Seca - in Marlboro Team Roberts colours as a replacement for Daryl Beattie. He finished a more than credible sixth both times. He was grand prix racing's next big thing. More than adept on a 500, Abe proved to be a more than capable podium runner, finishing inside the top three 17 times in the next eleven years. Suzuka would continue to be a happy hunting ground for Abe. He went on to claim two of his three grand prix wins at the track.

Abe’s first 500cc win came at his home GP in Suzuka, 1996.

"I was lucky to have raced against Norick. We fought several times. In 2001 we fought for victory in Jerez. I have unique memories of Norick. I am indebted to him, because he contributed a lot to my enthusiasm and my motivations”.

Rossi finishes: "I was and am one of Norick's biggest fans. I still have a photo with his autograph. His race and his appearance at Suzuka in 1994 motivated me a lot. After this race, I really wanted to become a motorcycle racer". [x]

[misanocircuit]

[pic & Italian-English translation by me! :) in pink it's Vale speaking]

The 125 champion from Brno to the Gazzetta's telephone

Valentino's women

"You're handsome, do you have a girlfriend? What kind of underwear do you wear? Don't cut your hair!"

·

Many teenager girls wanted to talk to Rossi, asking him some risqué questions. "Want to see me up close? At the Monza Rally or at the Motor Show". Unveiled many curiosities: "My new baby brother has evicted me out of my bed: now I sleep on the sofa". "I've bought the lucky-charm turtle at the supermarket".

The supporters worried for the post-victory hangover. "I'm fine but I had to celebrate, no?". About the future: "I would have stayed in 125 but Aprilia has insisted. In 250 it will be hard to do the same but at least I will be able to sleep more in the morning". And there's who confesses that Rossifumi's joy has been damped by Lady Diana's death and Biaggi.

·

Valentino is tired and sleepy. The journey from Brno to the Gazzetta's telephone was long and full of insomnia. He faces the telephone with a certain amount of skepticism. But it's the fans, especially many wild young girls, who immediately wake him up.

It's Giulia Vivian, 13 y.o., from Vicenza, to start.

"Valentino, is it really you? Oh mother, what an emotion", little excitement yelps can be heard in the background.

"But, how many of you are there?".

"Four. I'll pass you Alice who's 16".

"That seems already a bit too much".

"Listen Valentino, we would like to know when you're coming here to visit us".

"I just think never. I'll go to Bologna's Motor Show, we could meet there".

"Alright, we are all going to be there with the flags and we will paint our face with your colours".

"Maybe also naked?".

"Naked? We'll see, we love you, you have a beautiful voice".

A rousing 16 y.o. whose name we are going to omitt (you'll immediately understand why...) calls from the Brescia area.

"I was about to give up. I've been trying from an hour and my father wanted me to hang up".

"Such a pain in the ass!" [literally "ball-breaker"; editor's note].

"You're right, but I can't say him that. Is it true that you will race the Monza Rally?".

"Yes, in November, let the ball-breaker bring you there".

"If he doesn't bring me, he'll see".

"Come on the first day, because on the second day I don't know if I still will be in the race".

Then the topic switches on underwear.

"I have a curiosity: what do you usually wear, slips or boxers?".

"What a question... Usually slips. And you?" .

"It depends, on Thursdays I don't wear them".

"Damn!!! Now that I think about it, the rally starts exactly on Thursday".

Francesca Testori, 15 y.o., from Como, is embarrassed.

"Sorry, I'm excited. Although we know eachother: I'm the girl who has come to your house. But you were sleeping".

"Sorry what? I don't know anything about it...".

"Yes, your mother opened the door for me and she told me you were sleeping: you know, I was on holidays in that area. Your mother is kind".

"Yes of course, such a bummer! I sleep too much".

"Listen, I want to know from you how things are with Biaggi, I've heard a lot of stuff".

"I don't like him ("me too", underlines Francesca) but I don't have any problem with him. I simply am not his supporter. Then the "bastard" journalists have exaggerated things, but we did nothing to avoid it. I don't like him... Also sexually".

"I'm Martina...".

"Colombari?".

"No, Pegoraro, I'm calling from Treviso and I'm 13. I've watched you...".

"Have I been good?".

"Yes, and how are you?" .

"I have a bit of a sore throat".

"It's been half an hour that I've been trying to call: when I heard the phone line was free I felt like if I was fainting. How is Luca doing (the baby brother that mom Stefania has recently gave birth to; Ed.)?".

"He's starting to bother. He used to eat and sleep, now he cries. And then he sleeps in my bed, while I had to move on the sofa. When he was born he weighted 4,2 kilos, he was 1,20 tall and was 42 shoe size. But he's nice".

"I've been in Tavullia two weeks ago, because I was on holidays in the area".

She hesitates.

"Sorry, my belly is trembling for the emotion".

"Don't say it, here there are all of Gazzetta's journalists, like the director and deputy director. Let's do it like this, give me your phone number and I'm going to call you".

From Como calls Giuliana Mossi, 15 y.o.: her start is languid, Valentino immediately becomes attentive.

"You know, I'm friend with Francesca, the girl who came to your house but couldn't see you and so did I...".

"Don't tell me that also this time I was sleeping because otherwise I need to shoot myself".

"No, you weren't there, you were testing at the Mugello circuit".

"Ah, then it's fine. But I bet that you've talked to my mother, nice eh? They all say this, my mom is so cool".

"I wanted to know why you chose the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle as a lucky-charm".

"When I used to race minibikes I saw one on the helmet of another rider. I liked it and I went to the Coop to buy one".

"You're so beautiful, Valentino, sooner or later I'll come by to see you in Tavullia".

"I'm waiting for you".

Another tender call.

"I'm Erica Messena, I'm 17 and I call from Brescia. Do you remember when we have met eachother? You were with Capirossi at Quelli che il calcio [an Italian sport TV show; editor's note], I took you a picture and I wanted to send it to you. I've got the address: I did everything I could to track you down, I even called the Carabinieri [Italian police force; editor's note]".

To Lorenza Gabioli, 16 y.o. from Modena, Valentino entrust the result of a lightning-quick referendum:

"How about I cut my hair?".

"I'm sorry, like this you're stupendous, especially with the pigtail".

"Thanks for the advice".

Anyway there's a shocking news coming: super short hair and breathtaking colour. All to be seen, in Barcelona.

·

[top right text translation]

The car dealer friend

"Try not to change"

Among the many phonecalls suddenly an imperious voice can be heard from the other side of the phone:

"Here is Tosi Moto from Rimini: you're a monster [it's a compliment; editor's note], many congratulations".

Valentino immediately recognises who's speaking:

"Thanks, Otello".

"No, you're the one who's special — replies the friend, a car dealer who is highly committed in the smaller categories and who has met the new champion when he was a child —. You have a lot of supporters. On Sunday in Misano, for the first final of the Sport Production: we were cheering like crazy just for you. We were 76 people inside a garage in front of the TV. It was 10 minutes before the race and nobody was getting prepared: another while and even the start would have been postponed".

"Keep going like this — adds Otello — and you'll have everyone by your side, because you really represent the sportsmen, the ones who go to race on Sundays to have fun. I've been knowing you since you were a child and I know how many things you could do, how far you could arrive because you got your head straight. The important thing is that you don't let anyone mislead you. Woes".

[moonshynecybin]

Okay one thought regarding the rosquez age reversal AU from anon: like broadly I agree that bc of Marc modeling himself after vale so much it’s hard to imagine a reverse of that.

That being said, it is possible that in that world vale would have given himself the nickname "rosquez" instead of rossifumi and isn’t that just a thought.

what a beautiful world you have conceived

[anitalianfrie]

i was thinking about girl!vale (as i often do) and i thought. would she keep the same nicknames or would she use different ones? Rossifumi stays, 100%. i suppose i am allowing valentinik to stay even if it's terrible. but then, the doctor? the problem here is that, taking the meaning vale used it for (somebody knowledgeable), is in 99% of the cases used to talk about a man. It also would become "la dottoressa" instead of "il dottore" which 1. sounds weird and 2. doesn't really convey the same meaning because that's not usually how it's used.

but the other day I read a short story by an italian author at school, "la lupa" (the she-wolf) (go read it here, it's really short) which is also one of my favourite stories by him and i thought. wait. this could be vale. maybe the italian press starts calling her this while she fights with biaggi, in a dregogatory, mean way. she's a man-eater, she doesn't care about anything but what she wants, not about the rules or the sanctity of the sport. she's the daughter of the devil. and maybe vale looks at those articles, and thinks. yes. I will take this as a compliment. i am taking what i want when i want and i am not leaving anything for somebody else. i am eating my rivals alive on track and licking my fingers after. i don't care about what's right and what's wrong i just care about winning and i just care about me. so she takes the name, and instead of "il dottore" she becomes "la lupa".

[whydoubleu]

Ciao! Papa got to work sons!

[kanikuri]

[circus-sonata]

Valentino Rossi's YAMAHA YZR-M1 2019 Forever "ろっしふみがんばって！"

[bikefuckersoftheworldunite]

Valentino Rossi on watching Norifumi Abe at Suzuka 1994

[x]

From Valentino’s autobiography:

One day I had gotten up at dawn to watch the Japanese Grand Prix, live from Suzuka. And I was struck immediately by this wild card named Norifumi Abe (also known as Norick Abe). He was eighteen and raced the official Honda NSR 500. She was beautiful: all fluorescent orange, with green rings and numbers. They were the sponsor's colours. Abe had long straight hair and even when he was standing still, he looked like a great character. But most of all, he rode like a madman. He was absolutely fearless. I think that day was the fastest race of his life.

Suzuka is an unusual track. It's a gorgeous for a start, extremely technical, and it's full of secrets. It's not one of those computer- designed tracks. You can really only go fast there if you know your way around, if you've logged a fair few kilometres there already. But you need to know the asphalt inch by inch, learning every turn, every braking point, every little hole. It's a bit like Philip Island, except Suzuka is even tougher. Abe obviously knew that track very well, because he was very fast, despite being a wild card. He was up against the likes of Schwantz, Doohan and Itoh. His racing style made me think that he was an absolute nutter. He took turns with his steering locked, and often had to keep himself up with his knee. His suit was usually smoking, and he overtook in the most outrageous spots. He gave me the impression that he was racing in his last ever race. Instead, it was his very first race! Three laps from the end, his steering finally gave out and he fell. You could see it coming, to be fair. He was going so fast that, when he fell, his bike rolled off into the distance, smashing into an advertising hoarding on the other side of the track. But to me, Abe was a hero.

That year, from April to June, I got up every morning at 7 a.m. to watch the replays of that race in Suzuka. Every single morning, for two whole months. First I watched the race and then I went to school. That was the genesis of my great and undying admiration for Japanese racers.

[motogp-canada]

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[angel060563]

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[gsthina]

Late post: Such a small thing, matter a lot when it comes to the right person! Agree? #gsthina #gsthinawrites #gsthinadaily #gsthinared #valentino #valentinorossi #valentine #valeyellow46 #vr46 #fans #rossifumi #rossi #ranch #podium #champion #legend #thebest #best #thedoctor #teamyamaha #honda #yamaha #movistar #motogp #moto #moto2 #ducati #vape #kingmy (at Chennai, India) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8nVP-_jocN/?igshid=eum5ooshb57x

[southpawbynm-blog]

“Monster Rockstar” #southpawmafia #southpawspraypaint #southpawbynm #thedoctor #drink #drinkup #honda #fitness #motogp #valentinorossi #vr46 #rossifumi #redbull #energyboost #motorcycle #motorsport #ducati #energy #rockstar #redbull #healthy #racing #motivation #caffeine #yamaha #monsterenergy #valeyellow46 #energydrinks #preworkout #lifestyle (at Reliant Stadium) https://www.instagram.com/p/B18EWM-BsSz/?igshid=1mjx2bweldyp6

[kanikuri]

[cycle-moment]

#Repost @vrgo46fortysix (@get_repost) ・・・ Happy new years to everyone 😊😊😊 _____________________ @valeyellow46 🌞👑🐢💛 @yamahamotogp _____________________ #valeyellow46 #valentinorossi #valentino #vr46 #thedoctor #rossifumi #iostoconvale #forzavale #happynewyear #happynewyear2019 #motorsport #motorcycle #motogp #yamahamotogp #yamaha #M1 #movistar #dainese #monsterenergy #agvhelmets #agvrider #followme https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs3LgctnMPT/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=8q1vitaksec4

[whydoubleu]

Vale x Lewis #highlevelcrossover