Valentino Rossi is the first motorcyclist to be distinguished at the highest level by the prestigious British Racing Drivers Club (BRDC).
The British Racing Drivers Club – or in Portuguese, British Car Drivers Club – announced this week that it will award honorary member status to Valentino Rossi, MotoGP rider for Team Yamaha Movistar, nine-time world champion and title contender this year year. In terms of motorsport, it is the highest distinction that can be awarded to a driver in the UK – the equivalent of being knighted by Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II.
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This club, which holds the property rights to the Silverstone Circuit – where the next round of the World Motorcycling Championship will be played – is made up of the best known and most prestigious drivers in motor racing. Although some of its members have also distinguished themselves on two wheels like Sir John Surtees (the only man to win the title of champion in the two maximum speed disciplines: Formula 1 and MotoGP) Valentino Rossi will be the first member to be admitted only by the his achievements in motorcycling. In the following image, Valentino Rossi talking to Niki Lauda last weekend at the Czech Republic GP:
“There are no other motorcycle riders at the BRDC, I will be the first, something that makes me feel even more honored”, declared the Italian rider. “I know it's not easy to belong to this small group and that they are really selective”, “I'm looking forward to meeting BRDC president Derek Warwick, for whom I have high esteem and admiration due to his career in Formula 1. I hope to get one good result at the Silverstone Grand Prix and in this way to mark this moment even more”.
For his part, Derek Warwick, president of the BRDC also did not spare the words “becoming a member of the BRDC is the greatest distinction in British motorsport, I certainly speak for all members of the club when I say that we feel very proud, privileged and honored knowing that Valentino Rossi has agreed to become a member”.
Images: Motogp.com / Source: Motorcycling
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