Valentino Rossi's Hilarious Helmet Designs

Valentino Rossi is not just a living legend of motorbike racing, but he also an entertainer. When he won a MotoGP series you saw him did wheelie, stand in his bike, or take Italian flag from the crowds. There is also one more aspect that makes him fun to watch, his helmet that so creatively designed.



Now, let's check the story behind every Rossi's helmet design.


In 1997, when he still competed in 125cc class, Rossi mostly ran with his helmet design from 1996 by Aldo Drudi that created Sun and Moon motif. It would be in the later years that Rossi would choose to vary his helmet designs multiple times in a single season.




Valentino Rossi used a livery helmet designs at the Assen MotoGP in 2007 that inspired by Fiat’s famous 500 and celebrated the forthcoming re-launch of the iconic car on 4th July (a few days after the Assen MotoGP), exactly 50 years after it was first launched in 1957.

The design of Rossi’s helmet by Aldo Drudi was a tribute to the art and the icons of he time - namely Elvis Presely and Rits Pavone. Aldo Drudi made sure to paint a vinyl record on the top of Rossi’s helmet, and a graphic on the back that pictured Valentino with a guitar and a 1950’s haircut and had text that read: “Valentino and the Chihuahua’s, Live at Assen”




In 2007 Mugello circuit, Rossi wore AGV helmet design featured a big red heart positioned in top centre of the helmet, so when his head was down, the crowd would have the heart design facing them. This heart has some meaning in it; Rossi had been getting a hard time from the Italian press after losing his title to Nicky Hayden in 2006, and was also being criticised for not winning enough races in 2007 to mount a serious challenge and the heart was intended as a thank you gesture to his passionate fans for not doubting him, and as a riposte to the journalists in the press who had questioned whether his heart was still in the competition.



At the 2008 MotoGP pre-season test in Jerez, Rossi wore a special celebratory helmet, created to look like a birthday cake complete with icing and candles, it has the words ‘Happy Birthday Vale’ written across the top of the helmet.

In 2008 Catalunya GP, Rossi's AGV helmet sporting a design that was created to make his helmet look like a football. This due to his support to the Italian Football Team who competed in the 2008 UEFA European Championships, the day following the Catalunya MotoGP.

Below is the most hilarious helmet of Valentino Rossi. He wore for his home race at the Mugello round of the 2008 MotoGP season. Every year Rossi has a special helmet designed for the Mugello race, this time he wore arguably his most famous Aldo Drudi designed helmet to date - the AGV GP-Tech ‘Double Take’ or ‘My Face’ helmet.

This AGV helmet features a picture of his own face, displaying a highly excited or shocked expression, which Rossi believes will give fans a sense of how it feels to ride the Yamaha M1 around the Mugello circuit at speeds in excess of 320 kh/h. Rossi’s face is on the top, so when he puts his head down, the face comes into full view.




The AGV Celebr-8 helmet was designed and presented to Valentino Rossi in 2008 to celebrate his 8th World Championship. He also used this helmet in some of 2009 races, and because Rossi signed a deal with Monster Energy drinks at that year, it was the first appearance of ‘Monster Claw’ logo.




Valentino Rossi unveiled a new helmet design for his home GP of in September 2009. The specially designed helmet featured the face of the donkey from the film ‘MisanoShrek’ positioned on the top of his helmet. Rossi had the new helmet design created as an attempt to poke fun at himself for crashing out of the Indianapolis MotoGP the week before, throwing away valuable points from his championship lead.




Rossi secured his 9th World Championship title with 1 race remaining by taking 3rd place in a wet Malaysian GP in October 2009. Rossi celebrated with members of his fan club, by dressing up in a celebratory T-Shirt and helmet with the number 9 on and the words “Old Hen Makes Good Broth”.

Rossi then had his photo taken with a live chicken and nine eggs, before putting on the new helmet and riding off to celebrate. The significance of the chicken was a joke at Rossi’s age and is based on “Gallina Vecchia!” an Italian saying that states that the old chicken makes good soup, but it’s no use for laying eggs. Despite being 30, Rossi had laid yet another egg by claiming his 9th World Title

Source: http://rossihelmets.com

10 World's Richest Athletes

This list was made based on those athlete's salary, winning prizes and other endorsements. It might not completely accurate because it's only an estimated value.

1. Tiger Woods (Sport: Pro Golf / Annual Income: $100 million)
Still in his early thirties, Tiger Woods made nearly $23 million on the golf course and brought in a whopping $105 million in endorsements giving him a total of $127,902,706 and the No. 1 ranking for the fifth straight year as richest athlete. He might lost that title this year, rumored after his adultery scandal was spread some sponsors are breaked up with him.


2. Phil Mickelson (Pro Golf / $62 million)
It's not entirely surprising that golf's probable No. 2 best player would appear on this list but it's surprising that he's landed at No. 2 overall with $9.3 million in winnings and a staggering $53 million in endorsements giving him a total of $62,373,685.

3. David Beckham (Soccer / $45 million)
Becks invaded America in 2008 greeted by much fanfare and a high contracts, but injuries kept him off the pitch for most of the MLS season. The bulk of Beckham’s income is derived from sponsors like Adidas , Motorola and PepsiCo. Now he is on loan to AC Milan to ensured a place in England team for 2010 World Cup.


4. Kimi Raikkonen (F1 Racing / $41 million)
Ferrari made Raikkonen the highest-paid driver in motor sports last year when they gave the Finn a 3-year deal. Raikkonen delivered last year when he clinched the Formula One championship earlier this month. After having a bad season last year, Raikkonen decided to temporarly retired from F1 and want to move to WRC.

5. LeBron James (NBA / $40 million)
A serious business entrepreneur off the basketball court, LeBron James' salary was $12,455,000 and he raked in another $28 million in endorsements landing him at No. 3 on the list of richest athletes with a combined total of $40,455,000.




6. Manny Pacquiao (Boxing / $40 million)
A little surprise that the biggest earning in boxing sport doesn't come from the Heavyweight division, and not from U.S boxer too. But Manny Pacquiao is now the best pound per pound boxer, and become the most wanted target by any challenger in the world.

7. Lionel Messi (Soccer / $39 million)
This 2009 FIFA World Player only playing for one team for his entire career, Barcelona. He is still 22-year-old, and we'll see if he can win the 2010 FIFA World Cup with Argentina, how much raise will he get?

8. Alex Rodriguez (MLB / $39 million)
Baseball's greatest player earned an incredible $29 million on the field this year while bringing in a relatively modest $6 million in endorsements, with a total income of $39 million.

9. Fernando Alonso (F1 Racing / $35 million)
Alonso was contracted by McLaren team for $40 million/year for the duration of 4 years (2007-2010). He moved to Renault in the end of 2007 season, opted his contract with McLaren. Former double world champion Fernando Alonso has taken a £4million pay cut to help his Renault team meet the cost of staying in Formula One. This year he's gonna race with Ferrari.

10. Valentino Rossi (MotoGP Racing / $35 million)
Rossi clears around $35 million a year. That includes team salary from Yamaha and all endorsements, mostly from Fiat and AGV helmet. He also won 2009 MotoGP world title and rumored gonna move to F1 when he finished his contract.


There are supposed to be Oscar De La Hoya and Michael Schumacher on that list, but because they're both retired from the field I decided not to include both of them, although Schumacher gonna be back to behind the wheel this year.


Don't forget to check the newest update of 10 American and World's Richest Athlete, compiled by Sports Illustrated magazine.