![Italian 500cc rider Valentino Rossi pulls his Nastro Azzurro Honda out of a curve during qualifying for Rio Grand Prix at the Nelson Piquet circuit in Rio de Janeiro, November 1, 2001. Italian 500cc rider Valentino Rossi pulls his Nastro Azzurro Honda out of a curve during qualifying for Rio Grand Prix at the Nelson Piquet circuit in Rio de Janeiro, November 1, 2001.](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2D3X4D1/italian-500cc-rider-valentino-rossi-pulls-his-nastro-azzurro-honda-out-of-a-curve-during-qualifying-for-rio-grand-prix-at-the-nelson-piquet-circuit-in-rio-de-janeiro-november-1-2001-the-rio-grand-prix-races-will-take-place-on-november-3-reuterssergio-moraes-smhk-2D3X4D1.jpg)
Italian 500cc rider Valentino Rossi pulls his Nastro Azzurro Honda out of a curve during qualifying for Rio Grand Prix at the Nelson Piquet circuit in Rio de Janeiro, November 1, 2001.
![Aprilia 125 CCM - Valentino Rossi/Team Nastro Azzurro Aprilia - 1997 GP 125 | Model Motorcycles | hobbyDB Aprilia 125 CCM - Valentino Rossi/Team Nastro Azzurro Aprilia - 1997 GP 125 | Model Motorcycles | hobbyDB](https://images.hobbydb.com/processed_uploads/catalog_item_photo/catalog_item_photo/image/323060/Aprilia_125_CCM_-_Valentino_Rossi%252FTeam_Nastro_Azzurro_Aprilia_-_1997_GP_125_Model_Motorcycles_f4c1e906-9e8e-48d7-a617-de5d520ac33c.jpg)
Aprilia 125 CCM - Valentino Rossi/Team Nastro Azzurro Aprilia - 1997 GP 125 | Model Motorcycles | hobbyDB
![MotoGP Fan Zone on Twitter: "#OnThisDay In 2001 at Rio de Janeiro, Valentino Rossi on the Nastro Azzurro Honda NSR500 won the last ever 500cc GP. https://t.co/46sSK0uEXL" / Twitter MotoGP Fan Zone on Twitter: "#OnThisDay In 2001 at Rio de Janeiro, Valentino Rossi on the Nastro Azzurro Honda NSR500 won the last ever 500cc GP. https://t.co/46sSK0uEXL" / Twitter](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CS5sDw5WIAAR6n1.jpg)
MotoGP Fan Zone on Twitter: "#OnThisDay In 2001 at Rio de Janeiro, Valentino Rossi on the Nastro Azzurro Honda NSR500 won the last ever 500cc GP. https://t.co/46sSK0uEXL" / Twitter
![Italian 500cc Nastro Azzurro Honda rider Valentino Rossi pulls a wheelie on his bike during Rio Grand Prix at the Nelson Piquet circuit in Rio de Janeiro, November 3, 2001. Rossi won Italian 500cc Nastro Azzurro Honda rider Valentino Rossi pulls a wheelie on his bike during Rio Grand Prix at the Nelson Piquet circuit in Rio de Janeiro, November 3, 2001. Rossi won](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2D4EXJA/italian-500cc-nastro-azzurro-honda-rider-valentino-rossi-pulls-a-wheelie-on-his-bike-during-rio-grand-prix-at-the-nelson-piquet-circuit-in-rio-de-janeiro-november-3-2001-rossi-won-the-race-followed-by-spaniard-carlos-checa-in-second-and-max-biagi-in-third-reuterspaulo-whitaker-pwhb-2D4EXJA.jpg)
Italian 500cc Nastro Azzurro Honda rider Valentino Rossi pulls a wheelie on his bike during Rio Grand Prix at the Nelson Piquet circuit in Rio de Janeiro, November 3, 2001. Rossi won
The Bikers Blog - #OnThisDay 2000 Donington. Valentino Rossi on the Nastro Azzurro Honda NSR500 took his 1st win in the premier class. #thebikersblog #motogp | Facebook
![Italian 500cc motorcyclist Valentino Rossi on a Nastro Azzurro Honda takes a curve during the second free practice session for the Estoril Grand Prix September 8, 2001. Valentino Rossi clocked the best Italian 500cc motorcyclist Valentino Rossi on a Nastro Azzurro Honda takes a curve during the second free practice session for the Estoril Grand Prix September 8, 2001. Valentino Rossi clocked the best](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2D3YFGN/italian-500cc-motorcyclist-valentino-rossi-on-a-nastro-azzurro-honda-takes-a-curve-during-the-second-free-practice-session-for-the-estoril-grand-prix-september-8-2001-valentino-rossi-clocked-the-best-time-in-1-minute-40371-seconds-reutersjose-manuel-ribeiro-jr-2D3YFGN.jpg)