Happy 30th Valentino

We don't often send birthday cheerios on BikePoint, but we have made an exception for one of the greatest - Valentino Rossi.

Rossi, the winner of eight world GP titles, 97 races and the bloke who carried a blow-up doll labelled Claudia Schiffer as a pillion passenger, turned 30 yesterday, and he's received acknowledgments from colleagues, friends and movie stars - but nothing from his good mates at the Italian Revenue Service. Funny about that.

And what sort of gift do you spring on Rossi: an electric tooth brush? Pasta maker? A Max Biaggi dart board?

Some of the tributes are as follows:

Davide Brivio (Fiat Yamaha team manager)
"I don't really have a favourite memory of Valentino, or at least it's difficult to choose the 'absolute best!' The first one that comes to mind however is just after the Welkom race in 2004, his famous first MotoGP race with Yamaha. Before Valentino finally joined Yamaha, during one of the meetings the previous September, he said that he wanted to win his first race with Yamaha! This immediately created a lot of pressure for me and for Yamaha, but anyway I promised him that we would all try all our best. Honestly at that time I felt that it was going to be a very difficult thing to achieve! During the final few pre-season tests the chances of doing it began to look better and better, but in a race itself anything can happen. Incredibly, he won that race in Welkom and just after it, after the technical meeting had finished, we were alone in his changing room. Somebody had left a bottle of wine in the fridge and we opened it and raised a toast to that day way back in September, when he had first said that he wanted to win this race. "We did it!" I said to him. It was a very emotional moment for me because it was the moment we achieved our very first target together. Happy birthday!"

Tom Cruise (actor and Rossi fan)
"Valentino, You are a true champion. You keep raising the bar, relentlessly pursuing the next race, the next challenge, the next championship. I also know that the victories don't necessarily become easier. You have to dig deeper, work even harder, become more focused to overcome the distractions. That's what you do. And I, like countless others, know that when you're on that track anything is possible. It was my great pleasure to be there at Laguna Seca and see you take that victory. I can honestly say I've never seen anything like it! You certainly don't disappoint! Thank you for all the great races you have given us, and for all the great races yet to come. Happy Birthday."

Colin Edwards (teammate 2005-2007)
"I have a few fond memories of Vale starting from 2000. Our 2002 victory at the Suzuka 8-Hour was something special, but I'd have to say my one memory that stands out is Laguna 2005. Basically, we were both healthy and fighting for every inch. I did have a slight advantage knowing the track since 1992. As I can recall, it was the first time we were together on track racing close; as most would confirm, he was usually 10 seconds in front of me leading by this point in the race! Then he mounted a charge on the last two laps that came up just short...I was happy we didn't have one more lap! Haha! It's not really a memory that I beat him, it's more of a memory of racing side by side with what I consider "The Goat", which translates as The Greatest Of All Time. Happy birthday, you old man!"

Jorge Lorenzo (Fiat Yamaha teammate, 2008-2009)
"I want to say Happy Birthday to my team-mate Valentino. It is great for me to be racing with a legend like him, but maybe now he's 30 he might slow down a little bit!"

Stefania Palma (mother)
"I have thought about what to tell you through the media for your 30th birthday... I could have dealt with sun, stars, mountains, love and happiness... but I feel it is more right to say, simply... Happy birthday

Wayne Rainey (world Champion with Yamaha 1990-1992)
"Happy 30th birthday Valentino! I love to watch when the odds are against you, the battle is on. Your passion to win is visible and I respect that very much. 30 years old...life is just beginning for you!"

Kenny Roberts Senior (world Champion with Yamaha 1978-1980)
"Valentino, when I first saw you ride at the ranch in Barcelona... I thought Kevin Schwantz was tall and skinny! You were very impressive then as you are now! Good luck and Happy Birthday!"

Graziano Rossi (father)
"Simply... I would like to wish him to get to 40 without growing up anymore and then after 40... let's see!"

Uccio Salluci (best friend)
"I hope that for the next 30 years Vale will be as fast as he has been in the previous 30 and that he gives us more passes and excitement like we had at Laguna Seca 2008. 30 more Corkscrews, Vale!"

Marco Simoncelli (250cc world champion and friend)
"Happy Birthday, Bomber! Although you are now 30, try to give us as much excitement as you have given to us until you were 29! Auguri! Sic58"