17 years. It's been 17 years since Valentino Rossi last lifted his world championship title, his seventh in the premier class. At 30, "The Doctor" had to contend with a new generation of hungry riders ready to do anything for the final victory. A thrilling season, reminiscent of the glory days of the "Fantastic Four."
After his victory in 2008, the Italian was considered the favorite. In his prime, few could claim to rival his experience and racing intelligence, sharper than ever. The main rivals were still the same, but one important detail stands out in the 2009 regulations: a single tire manufacturer for the MotoGPSince Michelin did not make a proposal, Bridgestone had to equip the entire grid with tires.
Jorge Lorenzo, brilliant rookie in 2008 and teammate of "Rossifumi", is part of the team. Casey Stoner, who sometimes seems to struggle with his Ducati Desmosedici, should not be forgotten, but it is difficult to consider him a title contender. Perhaps this is Dani Pedrosa's year at Repsol Honda? Promised a bright future, the young Spaniard is struggling to find his feet in Grand Prix racing and does not possess the charisma of a LorenzoRossi or Stoner. The 800cc era (2007-2011) only showcased a few riders on the best machines. The level of competition was very uneven, and a "surprise champion" like Colin Edwards at Tech3 might have been was unthinkable.
Personally, this Rossi is the one I liked the most.
In Qatar, Stoner imposes his law as usualThis opening round, held on Monday due to rain-related issues, saw Dani Pedrosa already struggling. Eleventh place is a result you only manage once or twice a year when facing such big names. The joker is toast. Jorge Lorenzo, third in the Qatari sands, bounced back at Motegi with a victory, after an epic battle with Rossi. Rossi took second place and is now just one point behind his teammate in the overall standings. The battle couldn't have been closer. The psychological advantage lies with the Spaniard. 1-0 Lorenzo.
This season has seen many dramatic turnarounds. The first occurred in Jerez during the Spanish Grand Prix. Four laps from the end of the race, Jorge Lorenzo crashed in the second corner, one of the slowest of the season. Fourth at that point, he knew he was losing valuable points. Rossi, after a fierce battle with Pedrosa, won the race. 1-1, game on. In France, the situation was reversed. In the rain at Le Mans, Lorenzo put on a masterclass for the entire grid when Vale's having a nightmarish weekendA bad pit stop, a crash, followed by a ride-through penalty and 16th place. 2-1 Lorenzo.
While Stoner and Pedrosa can both contend for victories, the title battle is undoubtedly between the two factory Yamaha riders. The momentum may be shifting, but "Por Fuera" holds the advantage heading into Mugello. Rossi hasn't lost a race there since 2002.Reminder: it's 2009. Number 99 is at ease on the Tuscan curves and manages to outclass Rossi. Not for first place, though! Stoner wins by a hair ahead of the two men.
This is where mental strength makes the difference.Not having the advantage is one thing, making a powerful comeback is quite another. That overtake in the last corner of the last lap in Barcelona, a race later, changed everything. There's no need to dwell on this episode, which was widely covered by the media at the time and is available on video. The Catalan Grand Prix sealed the championship. Lorenzo never again managed to challenge Rossi in at least two consecutive races, although he did win the Indianapolis GP and the Portuguese round at his favorite circuit. "The Doctor" was slower than in 2002 or 2003, but absolutely unbeatable. He managed the second half of the season quite calmly, hitting hard and never getting scared.
Had he ended his career prematurely at the end of 2009, he would still be unanimously considered the greatest driver of all time. Sometimes, getting old isn't easy.
A championship is a marathonStoner, plagued by numerous problems, had to miss four races, while Lorenzo failed to score any points on two consecutive occasions. Rossi was less dominant than before, but just as effective thanks to his race intelligence.
Ultimately, there wasn't much suspense. You know, this is the kind of season Marc Márquez thrives on – well, the 2025 season was an exception: all the races were more or less competitive, but in the end, there were 45 points separating the champion and his runner-up. Lorenzo finished second after a remarkable year, it must be said. Dani Pedrosa took advantage of Stoner's absence to move ahead of the Australian into third place. It is also worth mentioning the emergence of Andrea Dovizioso, an official Honda rider, who won in Great Britain following a hellish race.
This year, Rossi entered into legend. 100 career victories, a dominant performance at the TT with Agostini for the "Tour of the Gods," and a ninth title. It was indeed in 2009 that Valentino entered a new world, joining the ranks of myths, as both great and less great days lay ahead. Never was his popularity so high, never was his aura so powerful.
Do you have any memories of Valentino Rossi's year in 2009? Tell me in the comments!
The mythical milestone of 100 victories, which Marc Marquez has yet to reach. But the Spaniard is currently at 99!
