Valentino Rossi celebrated his 9th World Championship title on the warm down lap with his fan club’s usual celebration t-shirt and new helmet designed by Aldo Drudi and a live rooster wearing Rossi colours carried on track by Uccio’s dad.

“Gallina vecchia fa buon brodo” is an old Italian proverb that means old hen makes good broth and is a indirect reference to Rossi’s age and his three younger rivals, but also his Italian detractors saying Rossi was ‘bollito’ (boiled), but on the back the egg was gold coloured.