Valentino Rossi is one of the historic riders in the history of MotoGP. The veteran Italian racer who is now defending the Petronas Yamaha SRT team has collected nine world titles in all classes. Of the nine world titles that Rossi has won, seven of them are in the premier class, aka MotoGP. Rossi's action on the race track is always eagerly awaited by MotoGP fans. Some of the things that are so synonymous with the figure of Valentino Rossi are motorbikes numbered 46 and of course the nickname The Doctor.
About the nickname, The Doctor is actually not the only nickname pinned on Rossi.
Besides The Doctor, Rossi is also nicknamed Rossifumi and also Valentinik. However, The Doctor is the most iconic nickname for Valentino Rossi.
So why is Valentino Rossi nicknamed The Doctor? The Doctor has become Valentino Rossi's nickname since the Urbino-born racer appeared to move up to the 500cc class from 250cc in 2000.
There are several versions of Rossi's nickname The Doctor.
According to Rossi himself, "Doctor" which means doctor is a very familiar name among Italians. The term "doctor" refers to someone who is an expert in a particular field.
"In Italy, you will be called a Doctor if you are very good at certain things, especially when you do something at a high level," said Rossi, quoted from Speedweek, mid-2018.
Meanwhile, Rossi's father, Graziano Rossi, called him The Doctor for no particular reason. However, in Italy, the nickname is a tribute to someone who has expertise.
"The Doctor I don't think there is any particular reason, but it's a beautiful and important (nickname). In Italy, The Doctor is a name you give to someone to show respect," said Graziano.
A slightly different version of the nickname The Doctor was delivered by Gianluca Falcioni who is the Marketing Manager of VR46 Racing, Rossi's racing team. Falcioni said, the nickname The Doctor came about because Valentino Rossi thinks and works like a doctor.
"When preparing the bike, Rossi is like a doctor. Because of the many aspects he applies, he is like doing treatment like a doctor," said Falcioni.
Although the origin of the nickname The Doctor for Valentino Rossi has various versions, it is clear that this nickname is indeed very iconic and has become its own color in MotoGP.
The icon of Valentino Rossi with characters such as doctors and the words "The Doctor" also often adorns the helmet and racing clothes of the 42-year-old racer.
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