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Easy rider turns thirty! : Boyish, fun loving and mega successful Valentino Rossi celebrates his 30th. birthday on February 16th. His father Graziano also raced motor cycles. Valentino was born in Urbino and initially raced go-karts winning the regional championship in 1990. His first World Championship on two wheels came in 1997 in the 125cc class on board an Aprilia. Two years later he claimed the title in the 250cc class and in 2001 was at the top of the class in 500cc.

From 2002-05 he was unbeaten in the MotoGP category claiming the first two championships for Honda, and the other two on board a Yamaha — an association which resulted in another MotoGP title last year.

Rossi has also hopped on a Ferrari Formula 1 car for testing and gone for a ride in rallying, finishing 12th. in the 2008 Wales Rally.

Happy Birthday Captain Italia!