2008 MotoGP: Rossi Helmets
The 2008 MotoGP season saw Valentino Rossi claim his 8th World Championship after losing out to Nicky Hayden when Rossi crashed out in the final round in 2006, and seeing Casey Stoner dominate the 2007 season. 2008 arguably saw Valentino Rossi in his finest racing form to date, which culminated in a thrilling mid-season clash with Casey Stoner at Laguna Seca.
The 2008 MotoGP season was also notable for some of the most memorable Rossi helmet designs, in particular the ‘my face’ or ‘double take’ design worn in Mugello. Rossi’s partnership with AGV helmets also developed deeper links and Lino Dainese, the founder and current president of Dainese S.p.a., appointed Valentino Rossi as Honorary President of AGV, the historic Italian crash helmet manufacturing firm that Dainese acquired in 2007.
2008 Valentino Rossi Helmets:
Jerez Test 2008
Rossi celebrated his birthday with a surprise Aldo Drudi designed helmet that he wore during the pre-season testing at Jerez. It also marked his first full season on Bridgestone tyres.
AGV GP-Tech Rossi Double Take helmet (My Face) Mugello 2008
The infamous AGV GP-Tech ‘Double Take’ helmet, also known as ‘My Face’ was designed by Aldo Drudi and was worn at the Mugello round of the 2008 MotoGP. Rossi won his 7th consecutive Mugello race in 2008 but his Drudi helmet proved to be be biggest talking point and highlight of the weekend for many fans and reporters. This helmet was also issued in a limited edition replica model available to buy.
AGV Football Azzurri Catalunya MotoGP Helmet
Valentino sported a tribute to the Italian football team in the Gran Premi Cinzano de Catalunya MotoGP in 2008. The italians were competing in the European Championships and Valentino’s bike was given a paint job to make it look like a football kit, his helmet had a football design, and the famous 46 number was given a makeover to match the numbers that the Italian football team wore.
AGV GP Tech Rossi Helmet 5 Continents
The AGV GP Tech Rossi Helmet 5 Continents helmet was the primary helmet that Rossi wore throughout the 2008 MotoGP season, and its another distinctive design by Aldo Drudi.
The design is an evolution of Rossi’s trademark sun and moon themes where each ray of the sun represents one of the 5 continents that MotoGP races in.
AGV GP-Tech Misano 2008
The AGV GP-Tech custom designed helmet that Rossi wore at the Misano round of MotoGP in 2008 was to celebrate his home race and featured a cartoon house surrounded by common Rossi images, including his late Bulldog Guido. Misano was notable for Rossi earning his 68th victory and matching the record of his countryman Giacomo Agostini.
AGV Rossi GP Tech Dreamtime Helmet
The AGV Rossi GP Tech Dreamtime helmet first appeared in Australia in 2007 testing session, however the helmet has been used in Rossi’s 2008 MotoGP campaign. The helmet design takes its inspiration from ancient Aboriginal art. Once again, this is an Aldo Drudi designed helmet.
AGV Celebr-8 Helmet
The AGV Celebr-8 helmet was designed to commemorate Rossi winning his 8th World Championship title. This helmet design was not used in any races but it has been used extensively in 2008 and 2009 testing sessions. In February 2009 at the Sepang tests, Rossi also used newly designed yellow version of the Celebr-8 helmet.
