All about 46's Rossi in Assen 2013

Back to the past.
Valentino Rossi finally took his first ever motogp 1000cc era grand prix victory in seventh race of 2013 season at Dutch TT GP in Assen. It was his first winner since the end of 2010 season.
After the race was over, we can find some unique fact about number 46 that Valentino Rossi always uses the number.

Valentino Rossi always identical with the number 46. Since the first time joined in 1996 he always uses the number 46 on his bike. This number is also used  by his father Graziano Rossi when he was racing in MotoGP. Race at Assen 2013 has produced some figures 46.

 

Start from 4th position, Rossi could lead in lap 6th.

Assen 2013 race was Rossi's 46th race after he won Malaysian GP 2010.
Rossi victory in round 7 motogp 2013 at Assen was his first victory since 2,5 year ago. Last Rossi victory before this was at Sepang 2010. After that in last 3 race in same season he didn't win the race. In the next two years he follow all race with each season 18 race but never win in both season (2011-2012). Then he needed 7 race to win again.
So it can be calculated: 3 + 2*18 + 7 = 46
Including race in Sepang 2011 wich the race was canceled because of a tragedy.

Assen 2013 was 46th yamaha factory team appearance in podium (top 3), calculated since Sachsenring 2010 which Rossi first cameback after long injuried despite Rossi just finished in 4th place.

Podium that he reached in Assen 2013 was his 46th podium after he won in Assen race 2007, 6 year before. (Started from Portugal GP 2007)

Total of all points which had Rossi collected since his first season in 1996 was 4646 point.
Unique, isn't it?

Before this race, he had collected 46 victory with Yamaha.
He needed 46 race again to win the race again after that at Assen 2013. So Assen 2013 victory was Rossi 47th victory with Yamaha also his 106th victory during his career in motorcycle grand prix.

Rossi took his 46th victory with yamaha.

Until Assen 2013 race, Rossi had collected 46 times finished in second place.

His last time finish in second place before this race was in 2013 opening grand prix in Losail, Qatar.

Assen had been held motogp race since 64 years ago in 1949. (2013 - 1949)
Assen circuit is one of the most legendary circuit in motogp now. It always hold motogp series since motogp first season.

The other special things about Assen are the circuit which Rossi's father (Graziano Rossi) could win on 1979 which Rossi has born in same year, and Rossi took his 100 grand prix victories here on 2009.

Rossi celebrated his 100 gp victory at Assen.

Rossi winning in Assen on 1997, 1998, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2013.8 times until 2013. Latest Rossi also won the race on 2015.

Motogp: Past & Present

Now, it has more than 65 years since the motogp first season was held in 1949. Since that time, it has experienced many change. So, what are them?
Here is it that you can seeing now:


Start

How difficult start in past time. The old time rider before 1987 must run and push their bike when the race was started. For motogp fans in present time, this start can be interesting. The push start was not used again since 1987 due to safety reason and it was changed by clutch start. Look backward in 1986, we can see some accident in the race start on 1986 season.

Classic motogp start not only a push start, but also there are no start lamp that they used flag to give a start sign.
In early clutch start 1980s until 1990s we can see there are so many jump start. But it was not a problem yet.

Upside: clutch start (1987-present), Downside: push start (before 1987)

Circuit

In early era of this motorcycle racing, the street could be used as race track. It is impossible to see the motogp race in street circuit due to safety reason. Motogp need wider run off area so that if there are any rider out of track it will not immediately strike the wall. Nowadays it will look like the race like in Macau Grand Prix or Isle of Man.

Straw barrier used to decorated in the side of race track.

Spectators
You will see that spectators in old time was so crowded and they can be anywhere, not only in a stand especially in old Assen. Looked like the spectator in all of the edge of the circuit.
You also will see that the photograper in the side of race track (run off area near starting grid).
Nowadays is neater. The spectator more organized and although you come to the circuit you also still can watch  the race in the big television in the circuit.


Technology

One of the most different between old Grand Prix with the modern Grand Prix is technology. Begin from electronic until television appearance. One of change that you can see is the cockpit of the bike, from analog to digital.

Respsol Honda 1990s.
Analog speedometer

Repsol Honda 2014.
Digital speedometer
plus light of LED lamps.

Bike and Rider's Costum

 Early era:(1949 - 1970s)
The helmet in this era look like a half of ball that the helmet just can protect half of their head. To covering their eye, they used goggles. Some rider used nothing to covering their mouth.
All wearpack bassically same for all riders. The colour of the waerpacks are black.
You can see the motor or the machine of the bike in very early of this era without fairing. The early fairing made the bike looked bigger, overtime it got slimmer.

Mid era: (1970s - 1990s)

The helmet in this era had like a ball, fullface and had been completed by a visor. In addition it more colourful.

The wearpack more colourful and begin stamped sponsor logo.

The bike had been covered by fairing, so you can't see the machine again. The wearpack was also stemped by sponsor logo. The tail of the bike was bigger than nowadays and the shape almost like a beam. The number that was stemped on the bike look had same font type before 1990s.

Modern era: (2002 - present)

The helmet still like a ball but tend to be slighty taper at the back of above. The helmet also has more various pattern.

The wearpack is thicker, and completed by hump to protect the rider's back and also has another function.

The bike is more aerodinamic, more complex by any hole or cavity in the fairing. The tail of the bike is taper. The picture, pattern, and font are more various, all type can be applied there.