Grazie, Vale!
Yamaha has presented retiring MotoGP ace Valentino Rossi with a stunning R1 tribute bike to mark his glittering racing careerRecently retired MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi got more than he bargained for at this year’s EICMA motorcycle expo in Milan, Italy, when Yamaha presented him with one very special motorcycle in celebration of all his years of racing success, many of which fell under the Yamaha umbrella.
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Dubbed the R1 GYTR VR46 Tribute, Yamaha designed and constructed the stunning machine to show its gratitude for the nine-time world champion, who racked up world titles across the MotoGP, 250cc and 125cc classes.
The glittering career saw the Italian maestro amass 115 wins and 235 podiums from 425 race starts, since his racing debut 26 years ago.
Presented to an emotional Rossi at the One More Lap event at EICMA on Thursday, November 25, the tribute bike sports a special livery produced by Rossi’s long-time helmet designer and personal friend, Aldo Drudi, along with a host of high-end parts from Yamaha’s GYTR catalogue and special components gleaned from Yamaha’s WorldSBK programme.
Then there’s the carbonfibre fairing and full carbon subframe, a race ECU, and top-spec brakes and suspension. The full list of premium parts and components is as follows…
From the 2022 GYTR catalogue:
- GYTR electronic throttle
- GYTR slipper clutch
- GYTR head gasket
- GYTR radiator kit
- GYTR air funnel set
- GYTR handlebar set
- GYTR handlebar switches
- GYTR front brake protector
- GYTR adjustable rearsets
- GYTR Akrapovic exhaust
- GYTR Marchesini wheel set
Special parts from WorldSBK development:
- 22lt factory fuel tank
- Full carbon rear subframe
- Underslung swingarm assembly
- Adjustable triple clamp kit
- Special carbonfibre fairing and racing screen
- Marelli race ECU (REX 140)
- Matching wire harness
- Sensor kit
- WorldSBK-spec air filter
- Öhlins side steering damper
- Öhlins factory fork
- Öhlins factory pneumatic adjustable monoshock
- Brembo front master cylinder
- Brembo brake discs
- Brembo brake calipers
- Chrome Lite dashboard with GPS
Not a shabby retirement gift, we think, and the perfect runabout for nipping down the shops in his home town of Tavullia!
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