MotoGP: 4 facts about Valentino Rossi that you probably didn't know

# Rossi is extremely superstitious

Rossi with his trademark helmet and cap

Every MotoGP enthusiast who has kept a track of Rossi's career must have observed his unique ritual before the start of every race.

These rituals may have started out as just another run-of-the-mill kind of thing. But after several years of doing it, it has become a habit that he seemingly cannot shake off.

Maybe as his successes on the track began to pile up, Rossi in some way started feeling that what he did before the start of the race was a sort of good luck charm.

First, right before he gets on his bike in the garage, he squats beside it and takes a moment or so to pray. In addition to this, he sometimes gently pats or kisses the bike. Then, right before the start, he fixes his helmet, his gloves and fidgets around with his gear.

Rossi once said in an interview, "It’s just a moment to focus and ‘talk’ to my bike, like moving from one place to the next."

Rossi also always puts on one particular shoe before the other and one particular glove before the other. He always gets on and gets off his bike in the same fashion - his right leg first touching the ground.

Rossi is also very particular about the design of his helmet; he took great efforts in ensuring every last detail was as per his specification.