Valentino Rossi’s maiden marketing campaign within the 500cc world championship was one for the ages, because it instantly marked him out as a future famous person. Using a 3rd manufacturing facility Honda, Rossi gained two races and completed on the rostrum in 10 out of the 16 occasions, setting the stage for a legendary profession.
However it was additionally the yr he had his first crack on the Suzuka 8 Hours, a race that has at all times been a prestigious battleground for Japanese producers.
At the moment, it was commonplace for 500cc and World Superbike riders to make the journey to Japan in July for the eight-hour enduro. In actual fact, Japanese producers ensured their 500cc stars would take part within the occasion by together with a clause of their contracts. This was essentially the most prestigious particular person race for them, they usually spared no effort in ensuring that they had the very best riders to deal with the race.
Given Rossi’s title wins within the 125cc and 250cc classes, he was naturally chosen for Honda’s multi-bike assault on the figure-of-eight circuit.
The Tokyo-based marque paired him with the 1999 WSBK runner-up and 1996 Suzuka winner Colin Edwards, making a uncommon all-gaijin (international) rider line-up in its roster.
The 2 have been using Honda’s new V-twin VTR1000SPW, adorned in Castrol’s well-known white-red-and-green livery. The strain was definitely excessive on the pair, on condition that Honda entered the race because the reigning three-time champion. To make sure they have been ready for the race, Honda flew them a number of instances to Japan to check the bike successor to the all-conquering RC45.
‘Silly mistake’ value Valentino Rossi
Edwards took the beginning and grabbed the lead early within the race, laying the muse to what might have been a powerful end for his or her first outing as a duo.
Nevertheless, their problem was derailed earlier than the primary hour was up when Valentino Rossi made an error and crashed, necessitating repairs within the pits.
“It was a silly mistake for me to make,” he stated afterwards.
“I misplaced the entrance, however I used to be pushing too onerous when there was no want. I additionally assume I used to be just a little unfortunate as a result of a couple of laps later the tempo automotive got here out.”
Regardless of the time loss, the pair have been making a fast restoration and Edwards was battling for a spot inside the highest eight when he suffered a crash of his personal within the fourth hour. This time the harm was terminal and the 2 future stars of motorbike racing have been out of the world’s most prestigious endurance occasion even earlier than reaching the midway level.
“My motivation was dented just a little when Valentino crashed, however I received going once more in my second session,” Edwards stated at the moment.
“I don’’t know what occurred. The entrance of the machine simply slid away from me. I suffered just a little little bit of a burn on my again from sliding however aside from that I am okay.
“I’m upset as a result of Valentino and myself might have gained.”
Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards
© Gold and Goose
Though Honda nonetheless got here away with a victory within the race, courtesy of native stars Daijiro Kato and Tohru Ukawa, consideration rapidly shifted to a second try for Rossi and Edwards in 2001.
Honda’s contract with Rossi had a two-race clause for the Suzuka 8 Hours because it knew profitable that enduro was going to be inconceivable on the first try.
Valentino Rossi
For Rossi, getting that win on the second time of asking was essential for extra causes than one. Whereas such a feat would have been nice for his profession and would have earned him the admiration of Honda’s brass, Rossi had been delay by the calls for of the Suzuka enduro and wished to get that win so he’d by no means should return there once more.
The warmth, humidity and the size of the race have been all an enormous inconvenience for Rossi, who was extra accustomed to the sprint-style format of the sequence now often known as MotoGP. This was additionally at a time when the race solely permitted two riders per bike, which means every rider needed to full round 4 hours of racing within the warmth.
Additional, he additionally needed to share the bike with one other rider, which naturally got here with too many compromises on the set-up.
As such, Rossi approached the next yr’s race with renewed willpower, whereas Edwards’ inventory was additionally larger after he had gained the 2000 WSBK title.
Now a part of the Cabin Honda squad, Rossi and Edwards have been joined by Manabu Kamata, though the rules didn’t require the third rider to truly experience within the race.
Valentino Rossi overcomes bodily toll at Suzuka
Rossi took the beginning within the No. 11 Honda and slipped previous the polesitting Suzuki of Akira Ryo on the second lap to seize the lead. Regardless of a lot of riders chasing him down, the Italian held his benefit on the entrance till the primary spherical of pitstops, when he handed over the bike to Edwards.
The American carried on the nice work of Rossi into his first stint, though the battle on the entrance received a lot nearer throughout the center a part of the race.
Particularly, Edwards engaged in an exciting duel with Pons Honda 500cc racer Alex Barros, with the duo altering lead a number of instances throughout their scrap. The American by some means held agency and headed into the pits on lap 101 with a slight benefit on the entrance.
One other key second got here on lap 117 when Barros’s teammate Tadayuki Okada crashed in entrance of Rossi on the chicane, having grabbed the lead shortly earlier than. Rossi needed to take evasive motion, however he saved the bike straight to keep away from a fall of his personal.
Okada managed to remount on the No. 33 Honda and, along with Barros, they remained constant challengers to Rossi and Edwards for the rest of the race – aided by the security automotive neutralising the gaps on the entrance.
Their battle was determined within the ultimate hour when Barros made a essential error throughout a pitstop, turning on the engine whereas a pit crew member was nonetheless engaged on the bike. This misplaced him and Okada over 30 seconds, giving Rossi and Edwards the buffer they wanted to cruise to the end.
Edwards finally took the chequered flag 14 second in entrance and was joined by Rossi within the victory lane as they celebrated Honda’s fifth successive triumph within the Suzuka 8 Hours.
Valentino Rossi, Suzuka 8 Hours
© Gold and Goose
“I’m the primary Italian rider to win the Suzuka 8 Hours race so I’m very completely satisfied,” Rossi, who was already a 500cc star by then, stated.
“When Okada crashed in entrance of me, I used to be a bit shocked as a result of I might solely see his machine. I assumed we might win this simply then, however No. 33 caught up once more when the tempo automotive got here onto the monitor.
“So throughout my final run, I used to be decided to get some benefits and hand the machine to Colin.
“Final yr, I used to be upset so I am actually completely satisfied to win the race at this time. This race was actually essential for me.”
The race took a severe bodily toll on everybody, together with Rossi, who later admitted it took him months to completely get well from the pressure and depth of the occasion.
Rossi would by no means return to the Suzuka 8 Hours, however his 2001 victory stays one of the vital exceptional achievements in his glittering profession.
Edwards, nevertheless, continued to race at Suzuka and scored his third profession win the next yr after partnering with Daijiro Kato.
Within the many years since, Suzuka 8 Hours has remained an especially essential fixture for Japanese producers; nevertheless fewer and fewer MotoGP riders at the moment are tackling the enduro.
Regardless of the plain calls for of testing and racing at Suzuka throughout a busy MotoGP schedule, which now stretches to 22 races, two riders will compete this yr.
Honda’s Johann Zarco (a winner final yr) and Yamaha’s Jack Miller shall be in motion this weekend, aiming to comply with in Rossi’s footsteps.
