Valentino Rossi Grabs 100th Career Victory
June 29, 2009 by Warren Hayashi
Filed under Racing
Valentino Rossi had a flag ready to commemorate his 100th career Grand Prix victory and the cementing of his legacy as one of the greatest racers of modern history Saturday night after his Assen win. The Doctor was challenged less, two weeks after winning in Barcelona, and this time he had more energy for the celebration to mark reaching the celebrated century mark in Grand Prix victories. Unraveling a banner to celebrate his hundredth victory and taking a photo using an old school camera to remember the occasion in style.
Valentino Rossi wins 100th career Grand Prix race
He did make a point of mentioning that he expected to win a few more races as he stepped upon the stage with his banner and smile to take the trophy. He took time to thank everybody involved in his reaching the century mark, all the teams, and especially Jeremy Burgess, his family, and friends, for giving him energy and motivation. Rossi then talked about his good feeling before the race and during the race to the assembled crowd and his perfect run to the flag.
Valentino was joined on the podium by Fiat Yamaha team mate Jorge Lorenzo in second place and Ducati Marlboro’s Casey Stoner in third. The win puts Valentino into the overall points lead for the World Championship after the three competitors had been level heading into the Assen race.
The Assen race was a good one for Colin Edwards who equaled his best result of the 2009 Grand Prix season with a fourth place finish earned in a heated battle with Rizla Suzuki’s Chris Vermeulen and Edwards’ Monster Yamaha Tech 3 team mate James Toseland. Chris Vermeulen grabbed fifth ahead of James Toseland, but both riders also had their best finish of the 2009 season with this result.
Rossi will have little time to enjoy his win as the MotoGP World Championship makes an appearance in Laguna Seca, California this weekend for the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix. Valentino did manage to win here in 2008, but knows it’s never easy to come to the states and win.
“Image: Zuma Press”
