If Andre Agassi’s Open redefined the sports memoir by exposing the agonizing vulnerability of a champion, Valentino Rossi’s autobiography does the exact same for the adrenaline-fueled world of motorsport, but infused with his trademark self-deprecating humour and irrepressible passion.
As one of the greatest motorcycle racers of all time, Rossi stands as a symbol of excellence on the global stage. Over his extraordinary career, he has secured 115 Grand Prix victories and nine world titles, including seven in the premier class. In his book, he opens up like never before, offering a mature, clear, and self-deprecating look back at his life and careeer.
Valentino strips away the glossy veneer of racing to offer an intimate, profound look at a larger-than-life journey. He dives deep into his unconventional upbringing – learning to drift in pedal cars at age two under the guidance of his wildly eccentric father, Graziano – and reflects on the lifelong friends who have stood by him, the imaginative gags that celebrated his victories, and his personal obsessions.
But at its core, this is also a gripping, universal story about overcoming profound challenges: the injuries that threatened his career, the lingering temptation to switch to Formula 1, and the fierce generational clashes that define a legacy. For the very first time, Valentino reveals the unfiltered truth behind his bitterest rivalries, detailing the explosive 2015 on-track collisions with a 22-year-old Marc Márquez. He finally breaks his silence on the obsessive plotting, the anti-sport behaviour, and the infamous “kick that never existed,” exposing the dark, raw side of competitive racing like never before.
Ultimately, the narrative brings us right up to the present day, exploring his transition to car racing and his dedication to mentoring tomorrow’s talents at the VR46 Academy. Co-written with Giorgio Terruzzi, Italy’s leading voice in motorsport.
As one of the greatest motorcycle racers of all time, Rossi stands as a symbol of excellence on the global stage. Over his extraordinary career, he has secured 115 Grand Prix victories and nine world titles, including seven in the premier class. In his book, he opens up like never before, offering a mature, clear, and self-deprecating look back at his life and careeer.
Valentino strips away the glossy veneer of racing to offer an intimate, profound look at a larger-than-life journey. He dives deep into his unconventional upbringing – learning to drift in pedal cars at age two under the guidance of his wildly eccentric father, Graziano – and reflects on the lifelong friends who have stood by him, the imaginative gags that celebrated his victories, and his personal obsessions.
But at its core, this is also a gripping, universal story about overcoming profound challenges: the injuries that threatened his career, the lingering temptation to switch to Formula 1, and the fierce generational clashes that define a legacy. For the very first time, Valentino reveals the unfiltered truth behind his bitterest rivalries, detailing the explosive 2015 on-track collisions with a 22-year-old Marc Márquez. He finally breaks his silence on the obsessive plotting, the anti-sport behaviour, and the infamous “kick that never existed,” exposing the dark, raw side of competitive racing like never before.
Ultimately, the narrative brings us right up to the present day, exploring his transition to car racing and his dedication to mentoring tomorrow’s talents at the VR46 Academy. Co-written with Giorgio Terruzzi, Italy’s leading voice in motorsport.