Rossi and Agostini at Isle of Man TT

The two Italian MotoGP greats took a trip down to the world famous Isle of Man TT road circuit. The Italian superstar duo watched on as the event’s Superbike race took place at the ‘Ago’s Leap’ section of the historic road circuit named after Giacomo Agostini, and then headed onto the podium to present awards to the top trio of John McGuinness, Steve Plater and Guy Martin.

An historic first took place on Monday, as World Champion Valentino Rossi went on his first ever lap of the circuit. Rossi was accompanied by Agostini and safety marshalls, he jumped on a standard issue Yamaha R1 decorated with his typical cartoonish decals in order for him to experience first hand the feeling of road track riding. The lap had been originally scheduled for Saturday, but due to ba weather the lap was postponed.

“I give big respect to the riders who are competing today. I have always followed the TT and have watched a mountain of DVDs, but watching it live is another thing altogether!” said Valentino Rossi from the Fiat Yamaha team in conversation with protective gear suppliers Dainese, who organised his attendance at the event.

“The way that these guys pass each other at a high speed is incredible!” Rossi added.

Dainese held a press conference on riding safety at the Isle of Man TT, during which World Champion Valentino Rossi talked about the D-Tec airbag system that is being developed in safety gear with his input.

Another notable rider present at the Isle of Man TT was British 125cc star Bradley Smith, he currently leads the lower cylinder category World Championship. Smith took his own tour of the track, but not on two wheels instead by car, in a Jaguar driven by ex-TT entrant Richard ‘Milky’ Quayle.