Valentino Rossi’s VR46 Motor Ranch is famous in Europe as a training ground not only for Rossi himself, but for future champions. Young stars such as Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia and Franco Morbidelli have turned countless laps on the track you will see Valentino riding in the video below.
By the way, the use of a slippery flat track as training for road racing can be traced back to Kenny Roberts, Sr., who trained many European road racers in this American tradition. Here is the video:
For what it’s worth, you can have more fun on an XR100 with dirt track tires, in the mud, then any human has the right. Like a wise man once said, it’s more fun to run a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow.
Looks as slippery as snow but clearly it’s valuable training with low speed/consequence.
Sure looks like a lot of fun! Yeah, I agree, the guy behind filming was going pretty good as well. I am sure Rossi could have gone much faster, probably was going a bit slower so the film guy could keep up and get the good camera shots. The smooth track was pretty awesome!
That rider behind him is Andrea Migno (SKY Racing Team VR46). He’s is one of Rossi’s VR46 riders. Yeah, he can ride fast.
what, does graziano live in that small white van?
Great to see Rossi smooth around the dirt track. I also agree…the camera guy is just as smooth. Guessing lots of mere mortals would love the opportunity to dirt track with Rossi…and possibly hang with him in the corners.
That guy has won it all, racing for almost 30 years. Still racing for the love of it. Perhaps The Real GOAT.
As impressive as VR46 is, the guy riding behind him filming the whole thing close up had to have some skills as well.
Fun! How would a pro riding a new Africa Twin perform on that track?
That would be called losing. The extra power would be useless and doubling the weight wouldn’t do you any favors at all.
We had a guy stud up a CBR600 and come out to “teach us a lesson” at the ice race track. Even the slowest guy lapped him very quickly on an ancient clapped out 500 thunper. He never came back.
Nice digs. 👍
It’s good to be king.
It’s basically a TT track without the jump.
Winter isn’t cooperating again this year. The lake opened back up yesterday. We need a good cold snap before I can plow my ice race track.
Yet another reason not to like New England. I was always riding by Christmas in Minnesota.
I wonder if The Netherlands will ever have enough ice for their ice skating race again. The Elfstedentocht hasn’t been run in 23 years. The closest they came was when I lived there. But a warm spell ruined the ice a week before the event.
Anyone else thinking Moto GP should start running on dirt tracks like this? (Bigger of course)
What he said!
This guy is awesome. I’d love to take a few laps at that track too.