![On this day in 2001, Valentino Rossi won his first premier class world championship (500cc). : r/motogp On this day in 2001, Valentino Rossi won his first premier class world championship (500cc). : r/motogp](https://i.redd.it/lhen7vg0c0t51.jpg)
On this day in 2001, Valentino Rossi won his first premier class world championship (500cc). : r/motogp
![Moto GP World Champion Valentino Rossi of Italy, left, and the World 250cc champion Marco Simoncelli of Italy, right, embrace after the Valencia Motorcycle Grand Prix, the last race of the season, Moto GP World Champion Valentino Rossi of Italy, left, and the World 250cc champion Marco Simoncelli of Italy, right, embrace after the Valencia Motorcycle Grand Prix, the last race of the season,](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2P9GG3G/moto-gp-world-champion-valentino-rossi-of-italy-left-and-the-world-250cc-champion-marco-simoncelli-of-italy-right-embrace-after-the-valencia-motorcycle-grand-prix-the-last-race-of-the-season-in-cheste-just-outside-valencia-spain-sunday-oct-26-2008-ap-photoalberto-saiz-2P9GG3G.jpg)
Moto GP World Champion Valentino Rossi of Italy, left, and the World 250cc champion Marco Simoncelli of Italy, right, embrace after the Valencia Motorcycle Grand Prix, the last race of the season,
On This Day: Rossi becomes a premier class World Champion! | On this day 19 years ago, Valentino Rossi VR46 Official became a premier class World Champion! 🏆 Aboard his 500cc Honda,
![Valentino Rossi: Nine-time world champion to retire at end of 2021 MotoGP season | Motor Racing News | Sky Sports Valentino Rossi: Nine-time world champion to retire at end of 2021 MotoGP season | Motor Racing News | Sky Sports](https://e0.365dm.com/21/08/2048x1152/skysports-valentino-rossi-motogp_5468999.jpg)