We saw a sketch of the customised Valentino Rossi inspired Yamaha R1 back in October and the bike was finally unveiled this weekend at the Cycle World International Motorcycle Show in Long Beach, California.

This special R1 was wanted Don Emde, Motorcycle Hall of Famer and Parts Magazine publisher, and will be auctioned off in 2010, with the proceeds going to the Riders for Health charity.

The livery was designed by the famed Aldo Drudi and based on Rossi’s Five Continents AGV helmet, but the R1 donated by Yamaha Motor Corp, has been customised with Ohlins suspensions, Roland Sands wheels and Akrapovic exhausts.

Source | dealernews

Continue reading: Riders for Health Yamaha R1 Unveiled

BER Racing Italy in collaboration with Lucedentro (light inside) and international graphic designer Aldo Drudi have come up with a very a special helmet called Zebra based on Arai’s Viper GT (full face) and the SZ-F (jet)

Using Lucedentro’s exclusive photoluminescent pigments which retain solar or electric forms of light, store it and give it off for a period of time that varies from eight to ten hours these pigments applied on the Zebra guarantee the maximum visibility, allowing other drivers to see motorcycle riders in traffic, especially at dusk or in poor visibility conditions.

The Arai Zebra is available only on request: 30 days from order - exclusive and limited edition of 50 pieces and can be ordered at berracing.it or directly online at store.berracing.it

Sizes go from XS to XXL and the Viper GT Zebra will sell for € 749.00, while the SZ F Zebra goes for € 610.00

Continue reading: Arai Zebra Lucedentro Helmet

AGV Helmet - Valentino Rossi The Donkey

AGV is going to release at the end of January 2010 a special limited edition run of Valentino Rossi’s ‘Donkey’ helmet. The iconic and ironic helmet was worn by Rossi at the Misano GP, who thought up the idea for the helmet and had Aldo Drudi design the graphics immediately after his silly crash at Indianapolis when Rossi admitted his first thought was “what a donkey” (even if we bet that wasn’t exactly his first thought).

The GP Tech is AGV’s top of the range lid, entirely made in Italy and helmet worn and developed by Rossi.

The lid will come with a limited edition box and sell for € 745.

Continue reading: AGV Helmets – Valentino Rossi’s The Donkey Limited Edition Replica

Parts Magazine will be doing something very special for the Riders for Health charity. It’s going to auction off a customized 2009 Yamaha R1, and what a custom job that this R1 has got.

The bike donated by Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA will have Ohlins suspension, Roland Sands Designs wheels, Akrapovic exhausts, Bridgestone BT003 tires and a special paint job based on Valentino Rossi’s AGV helmet design the Five Continents.

The famed designer Aldo Drudi adapted the helmet design to the R1 bodywork with personal approval of the project by the 8 times World Champion.

The Riders for Health bike will be auctioned off early to mid 2010, with location and date to be announced.

Check out Parts Magazine November issue or their website for more information.

Continue reading: Special Yamaha R1 to be auctioned for Riders for Health

When you mess up a race like Valentino Rossi did at Indianapolis, what do you do? Find plausible excuses and then go on to the next race or call yourself a stupid ass and make fun of yourself?

After the Indy GP, Aldo Drudi got a text message from Rossi who had an idea for his helmet for the Misano GP. Drudi came up with this one off helmet based on the famous Donkey from the Shrek movies, Rossi’s blue eyes from his 2008 Mugello helmet, his earring and a tooth cavity with the Yamaha logo and the result was one of Rossi’s more ironic helmets designs and here’s they made it.

Continue reading: The Making of Valentino Rossi's 'Donkey' Helmet

Valentino Rossi is sporting another of his special one off helmets for his home race at Misano. The AGV helmet is as always designed by Rossi’s favourite designer Aldo Drudi.

Rossi is clearly making fun of himself after his crash at Indy MotoGP that saw him half his lead on rival and team mate Jorge Lorenzo.

The helmet has the face of a donkey on the front and on the back has The Donkey in English and El Sumer, which is the Italian dialect of the area for dunce or ass.

Source | gpone

Continue reading: Valentino Rossi's Misano 2009 Helmet

For the only U.S. round of the World Superbike Championship that took place in Utah, helmet artist Aldo Drudi of Drudi Performance created a special design for Ben Spies helmet and boots. Not as wild looking as Valentino Rossi’s helmet designs that Drudi usually creates, Spies HJC lid had the Texas Lone Star on the front and on the back Drudi added the slogan Texas Terror, and considering the way Spies dominated both races at Millersports Park it was truly an apt expression.

The Alpinestar boots were made up with the classical red, white and blue Stars and Stripes, his last name and his nickname “Elbowz” imprinted on the head of a Texas Longhorn, the horns of the steer probably symbolizing the way Spies keeps his elbows out while racing.

Continue reading: Ben Spies: These Boots were made for Winning

In keeping with tradition, Valentino Rossi showed off another distinctive new helmet design. The special edition Mugello helmet in the MotoGP Saturday morning free practice session, as has become the custom on his home race weekend.

This year’s Rossi´s Aldo Drudi designed AGV helmet features Valentino’s gloved hands holding his head/helmet and on the back of the helmet Rossi’s two bulldogs Cesare and Cecilia, with their paws also on their heads.

Let’s hope that this helmet doesn’t express the dismay that Rossi may have felt when Ducati Factory rider Casey Stoner, took 1st place in this morning’s free practice when he stopped the clock at 1′49”323 and Jorge Lorenzo took second just 0,027s off Stoner’s time. Rossi was third at 1′49”527.

After the jump MotoGP FP2 results:

Continue reading: Valentino Rossi's 2009 Mugello Helmet

Remember Valentino Rossi’s face helmet ,the one he sported in the Italian Gp last year?

The lid was thought up by Rossi and designed by Aldo Drudi and according to Rossi the design depicted his expression when he hits the San Donato curve after the straightaway in Mugello at over 300 km/h; now this iconic helment can be yours, with your own face on it or anything you want on the top.

Staring March 3rd go to www.italianlegendaryprotection.com that was registered by Dainese, owner of AGV Helmets of which Rossi is the honorary president or either the Dainese or AGV websites and you’ll be taken to a specially created mini-site and through a step-by-step guide to create your helmet by uploading your favorite photo and when you’re happy with the final design you can buy it and within eight weeks of the order you’ll be the first on your block with the most original helmet around.

Continue reading: AGV Wannabe Rossi Helmet