Quotes by Valentino

"I'm Valentino Rossi. And I want to be a person, not an icon. "

"I would have probably stolen cars - it would have given me the same adrenaline rush as racing."

"For me the tracks are not as important as the psychology"

"When I made the decision to move to Yamaha many people thought it was a stupid thing to do, even my father and Jeremy Burgess. But I was already committed and have never looked back since."

"I don't like Formula 1 very much. If you take away Schumacher, then maybe Jacques Villeneuve and Juan Pablo Montoya, they're all the same. The cars have so much technology the drivers don't have to do anything. Even if I win many races , I still have to fight and we have overtaking and excitment"

"I said to Max: 'What are you doing idiot?' And then there was some pushing and shoving. Then a security guard grabbed me and someone took Max"

"I try to have a different relationship with the bike. I don't give it a name, but I always speak with it. I don't know if the other riders do the same. This is not only a piece of metal - there is a soul. The bike talks back too. But not with a voice, with the components"

" All Honda are bastards "

"For sure there are good points, but there are very much worse points. When you go to dance in a nightclub, when you go with your friends to have a snack at McDonalds, people want to speak to you, take pictures. At first, I was very much friendly - too much. No I have learned to be a shit. To say no!"

"When I looked at my best lap time I thought it was like a symphony of violins - perfect, so I decided that if I won I would do this celebration across the finish line!"

"It's nice to have on or two girls chasing you, but when there's one thousand, it's not good!"

"125 racing was more like a game. 250 started to become serious and this is more serious, because this bike is dangerous...it's necessary every time to be quiet and respectful with the bike. Very respectful."

(About his turtle tattoo) "Because I like the animal a lot. I had it as a mascot from when I was very young."

"The Doc Rossi is born a night together with Drudi (designer author of the Rossi helmets), because in Italy there are thousands of Dr. Rossi. He is a crazy scientist that take the place of Valentinik that has worldwide troubles. He (Valentinik) is always busy op peace-keeping in the Universe he has a lot to do and he cannot come to the races no more..."

"Fear? Every time I crash. Very much. When crashing, every time - it's not a good sensation. Every time, the track is more hard. It hurts more."

"I had to become a motorcross rider at 220km/h and I can guarantee you that's not a nice experience on a 500. Then I went passed him and gave him a little wave - I was just nervous, it's the race you know?"

"I never liked him. Even as a kid seeing him on television, he never appealed to me. A good rider but not a good guy. We never talk and I don't understand why he started to put me down in the Italian press. He even said I became famous by speaking ill of him."

"I've had enough with this old story rider-bike. Honda is strong in breaking, me too. On breaking I pass them everywhere"

"Passing Biaggi on the last lap was like the best orgasm"

"To be Valentino Rossi - that is, Valentino Rossi the famous personality - means many positive things, many advantages, and also many privileges. But it also means paying a very high price for that same popularity."

"Riding a race bike is an art - a thing that you do because you feel something inside."

"I also own a Yamaha motorbike but always respect the speed limit!"

I become racing Valentino from Friday morning. I try to stay my normal character - with jokes and laughter if possible - but in a race weekend I work always at 100% and try to use every minute to arrive stronger in the race. But I try not to become too serious."

"Anyone who spies on another is not a son of Mother Mary"

"Before I like Schwantz very much. He's my favourite rider of all time. Also Doriano Romboni. But mainly Kevin (and) ofcourse Mick. And also Wayne Rainey and Wayne Gardner. The true riders of 500"