Motorbike racer turned FIA World Touring Car Championship event winner Stefano D’Aste has recalled the time when he took over Valentino Rossi’s ride.
D’Aste and Rossi raced together at 125cc level during the 1994 season before Cagiva signed D’Aste to replace Rossi for 1995 following the latter’s graduation to the 250cc category.
While Rossi went on to claim a succession of 500cc and MotoGP titles, D’Aste switched to four wheels, firstly in rallying before a successful move to car racing.
“When Valentino was a factory rider of Cagiva in 1994 I was a semi-factory rider,” remembers D’Aste. “I had the official parts but the bike from the year before from Valentino. Then when Valentino left 125 I signed a contact with Cagiva and got the place of Valentino. I used his bike before I got the evolution bike and because Valentino won the championship the year before they gave me number one.”
D’Aste recalls his time on two wheels with great fondness and likens the atmosphere in bike racing to the WTCC, which he’s backing contesting this season in a ALL-INK.com Münnich Motorsport Chevrolet.
“Many times we were together in the paddock having fun and doing silly things,” says D’Aste of Rossi. “We did some funny things with water guns and taking scooters off road, having great fun, which is how it is in the WTCC. I knew Valentino would be good and it’s great he’s back really very competitive now.”
