Yesterday, Valentino Rossi and many of the talents of his VR46 Riders Academy were present on the Mugello circuit to compete in a competition with a unique principle.
Each driver, including Valentino Rossi himself but also Franco Morbidelli, Mattia Pasini, Nicolo Bulega, Andrea Migno, Stefano Manzi, Pecco Bagnaia, Lorenzo Baldasarri, Niccolo Antonelli and Lin Jarvis along with Luca Cadalora et Alex Gramigni, received a Yamaha R6 or R1 equipped with a transponder whose name displayed that of a legendary or well-known F1 driver: Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, Niki Lauda, Nelson Piquet, James Hunt, Nicolas Cage, etc.
This is so that the drivers on the track cannot know who had done what and concentrate solely on their driving, without taking the wheel of so-and-so.
Only Lin Jarvis, the boss of the Yamaha MotoGP program, saw his real name on the screens, and only Valentino Rossi, Uccio and Mauro Sanchini knew who was hiding behind these pseudonyms.
Without this being really stated, the Italian press which covered the subject thinks that behind the pseudonym of Nigel Mansell was hiding a certain Doctor who, moreover, carried out some demonstrations on the handlebars of a Yamaha R1.
The atmosphere was apparently very relaxed for this operation set up by Yamaha and VR 46, the nine-time world champion appearing completely liberated after his start to the season which saw him take first place in the general rider ranking.
We can bet that behind this pleasant day lies the fierce desire to take revenge on this Florentine circuit which, after the fall in Texas, did not bring luck to the Yamaha rider last year.
