MAT OXLEY
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO Valentino Rossi had recently completed his first season of international racing. Between May and October of 1995, the 16-year-old had contested the European 125cc championship, not only failing to win the title but failing to win a single race.
The European championships were the final step of the ladder before grand prix racing. Each year the top three finishers in each category were guaranteed a place on the grid in the following year’s world championships. In 1995 Rossi was like most teenage hotshots: riding on natural ability, not thinking
