Birthday Helmet Jerez 2008

Location: Jerez, MotoGP Test

Date: Sunday, February 17, 2008

Test position: 8th

Valentino Rossi received a special 29th birthday present during testing at Jerez in Spain in February 2008 when he was handed a celebratory helmet. The Jerez test was also significant as it marked Rossi’s first test of the season on Bridgestone tyres, after switching from Michelin.

Legendary helmet designer Aldo Drudi, who has been responsible for many of Valentino Rossi’s most unique colour schemes and distinctive helmet designs, created a special lid for the Italian to run on the first day of the 2008 official MotoGP test. Created to look like a birthday cake complete with icing and candles, it has the words ‘Happy Birthday Vale’ written across the top of the helmet. Valentino claimed to have come up with the idea for this type of helmet design the year before:

Valentino Rossi:

“It’s good to be here on my birthday because I love to ride my bike and I had fun today. I had a special helmet with the design of a birthday cake on it, so this was my way to celebrate today! It was my idea because last year for my birthday I was in Sepang testing. After my birthday I said I want a helmet with a cake on it, so I had to wait for one year. We tried with the real one but it was difficult for the aerodynamics, “laughed Rossi.

Groups of fans gathered for the testing sessions at the Jerez de la Frontera circuit and were heard singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to Rossi.