AGV Rossi Suzuka Helmet (2002)

Rossi in Suzuka 2002

Location: SKYY VODKA Grand Prix of Japan, Suzuka, Japan

Date: Sunday, April 7th, 2002

Race position: 1st

The 2002 season opened in Japan in wet race conditions and was significant as it marked the debut of the new 4-stroke motorbikes. Rossi grabbed pole position on his RC211V Honda after a tricky qualifying session, with rival Max Biaggi close behind in second place. Rossi won the race and made history by becoming the first rider on a 4-stroke machine to claim victory in the new MotoGP category. Rossi´s victory at Suzuka on the RC211V was the first Grand Prix win by a 4-stroke machine since Giacomo Agostini claimed victory in the 1976 German Grand Prix at Nurburgring.

Suzuka is also a track where Rossi has a history of sporting new helmet designs, and 2002 was no different. Rossi’s helmet at Suzuka in 2002 was a variation on the previous season’s design and was made up by blending older images that Rossi has featured on helmets in the past, with the sun and moon as the dominant symbols on either side of the helmet. The right side of the helmet maintain’s the yellow colour that Rossi is associated with and featured a bold sun motif that almost resembles a flower. The left hand side is darker and features the moon. Rossi also had his initials featured inside a smaller sun positioned on the back of the helmet.