Nine-time world motorcycle champion, Valentino Rossi, arguably dubs the most famous motorbike helmet designs across the globe.
Established early in Rossi’s career - not only was he going to be fast on a motorbike but he was going to look good while doing it.
Italian designer, Aldo Drudi, is the man responsible for churning out Rossi’s whimsical helmet designs. Everything from the originality of Rossi’s famed sun and moon symbol to the incorporation of a lightning colour scheme were brewed over two decades ago between an adolescent Rossi and the notable designer, Drudi.
Drudi avoids the cameras, having participated in few interviews during his time. He likes to keep it low key and in a past interview with Cycle World explained exactly why:
“Everything we do in racing is based on the rider, and it would be a mistake to think that a designer could be more important than the rider. The helmet is done by the designer for the rider… My work is subordinate to the rider.”
Drudi’s helmet designs date back to the 90s with 500cc World Champions’ Kevin Schwantz and Mick Doohan both styling Drudi’s work. Today he designs for an array of athletes, including Marc Marquez, and worked on a special project this year, designing the helmets of the Emirates Team New Zealand sailing team for the America's Cup.
Born and raised in the same Italian region as Rossi. Drudi met and worked with Rossi’s father, Graziano Rossi, years before a budding Valentino would come onto the scene. Papa` Rossi was wearing Drudi designs even before Valentino, a competitive rider himself in the late 70s to early 80s, Graziano was a fan of the Drudi Performance stamp.
Graziano introduced his son to Drudi and a love affair of helmet designing soon ignited, making Rossi’s helmets the most iconic and recognisable in Motorsports to date.
The Sun and the Moon (Sole Luna)
In 1996, Rossi entered the big stage, beginning his Grand Prix racing career at age 17. It was the world's first taste of Rossi's racing charisma and the initiation of a whole different approach to helmet designs.
The sun and the moon is not the first helmet Drudi designed for Rossi but reigns as one of Rossi’s most distinguished helmets. It’s the first design Rossi wore on the Grand Prix stage, our introduction to the sun and moon symbol and subsequently the helmet that would see him win the 1997 125cc World Championship (pictured above). From 1996 to 2001 variations of the helmet were produced each year, but stylistically the angry sun and moon did not change largely in form.
The sun and moon is symbolic of Rossi's two personalities - the positive happy-go-lucky attitude and the darker competitive nature acquired to take out a win.
The largest leap in Drudi's rendition of the sun and moon design came in 2002 where we see solid shapes and a native paint design take form (pictured above). It is the first time the sole-luna concept (sun and moon) is clear of the angry sun and moon faces.
In recent years, Rossi has had up to five helmet designs per year produced, including his annual helmet used throughout season, a Winter-test helmet and the two exclusive helmets fans itch to see - those designed for the Italian Grand Prix's, Mugello and Misano.
Rossi is an integral part of the designing process of his helmets, but says: “A nice helmet is a helmet that wins." One of his favourite helmets is the one pictured above, used for three consecutive championships - 2003, 2004 and 2005. Seasons all of which Rossi took out the championship.
And for this very reason, it has a special place in Rossi's heart: “It won three out of three championships, so it’s an undefeated helmet."
The 'Exclusive' Mugello & Misano Helmets
Each season Drudi and Rossi team up to create two exclusive helmets, one for the Misano Grand Prix and the other for the Mugello Grand Prix. They have become a tradition over the years, designed specifically for Rossi's hometrack circuits, paying homage to his fans and often feature a design either referencing Rossi's fans, his team or himself.
If you can imagine two Italian men sitting at a table energetically tossing back and forth ideas for a new helmet design then you have precisely pictured how Drudi and Rossi work as a team. They meet two or three times a year before they settle on the right design to develop.
The final concept for both the Mugello and Misano helmet is settled just days before the race in order for its design to be as current as possible in reference to MotoGP events, and has often poked fun at Rossi himself or the media.
Here are five Italian GP helmets explained:
'Give us a Hand' - 2014 Misano Helmet
The 'Give us a Hand' helmet created for the 2014 Misano GP is one of Rossi's all time favourites. Its designed development was initiated from the Italian rhyme, "Misano ci dà una mano' which translates to "Misano gives us a hand."
The helmet features the handprints of all of Rossi's engineers, mechanics and anyone that worked on his bike. It also features the handprints of close friends, the thumbprint of Drudi and the lip marks of his girlfriend and mother. And we can't forget the paw prints of his cat and dog, located at the back of the helmet. The helmet is a metaphorical reference to members of Rossi's team giving him an 'imaginary push' on the track.
'Boxer Helmet' - 2012 Misano Helmet
The 'Boxer Helmet' is a pure example of Rossi taking a dig at himself. Created for the 2012 Misano GP, it features a bruised and bandaged Rossi cartoon character with the words 'come vado?' meaning 'how am I doing?'
The helmet is laced with dark humour referencing Rossi's challenge to get good results with the infamously difficult Ducati. 'How am I doing?' - I'm taking punches.
'Di Vale Pasta Helmet' - 2014 Mugello Helmet
A veteran in the sport aged in his mid 30s, Rossi came off the back of two difficult years with Ducati from 2011-2012, his worst results in his Grand Prix career. He went back to Yamaha in 2013, ending the season placed fourth, a fair result considering he finished seventh and sixth with Ducati.
But people were starting to talk - Rossi was too old for the game, he was finished. The Italians were starting to say he was "boiled." With pasta being typically Italian - Drudi and Rossi put their heads together to make a statement back to the Italian media. The Italian phrase, "Non scuoce mai," meaning "it never gets overcooked," is a reference to a good pasta that does not get overcooked and soggy even if you boil it for too long.
The helmet - Rossi is like a good plate of pasta, he is not boiled.
'My Face' - 2008 Mugello Helmet
Ever wondered what it feels like to race a monster machine at up to 300 kmph on the Mugello track? Famed for its high speed corners, Rossi's 2008 Mugello helmet featuring a screaming Rossi explains exactly how it feels. Not for the faint hearted.
'The Eye Helmet' - 2011 Mugello Helmet
Rossi's 2011 Mugello helmet is a satirical reference at himself, who in 2010 crashed and broke his leg on the circuit in the practice session. The eyeball on the helmet alludes to the notion of keeping a careful eye out on the track to prevent the same mistake. As Rossi explained, “Look out because Mugello can hurt you."
Keep an eye out for Rossi's exclusive helmet design this race weekend for the 2017 Mugello GP.