One of the early aides in Valentino Rossi’s career admits that he didn’t expect future MotoGP legends to win nine world titles.
Rossi’s iconic career has produced seven premier class championships after glorifying at the 250cc and 125cc levels.
Aprilia was the maker who gave Rossi a big start after Carlo Pernutt noticed his incredible Italian rider.
Currently a veteran of MotoGp Paddock, Pernat was responsible for Aprilia’s sports activities as rider manager.
“When all the riders wanted to come to Aprilia, everyone recommended him to me,” Pernat told Il Secolo.
“I went to see him and wow, he took a trajectory that other riders didn’t do, but he often fell.
“I fell in love with him.
“Even if he couldn’t believe he could win nine world championships, we found out he had talent that others didn’t have.
“I had to insist on a bit, not a bit, but I was sure of the owner because we already won once with Max Biaghi, who was also unknown when we took him.
“Initially he didn’t know how to get into a wet place. He always fell down. Then he beat everyone.”
Rossi finished ninth in his first 125cc season at Aprilia before he began to dominate.
He won his first world title in his second year in 1997, and only needed two more years to win at 250cc.
“He was Daredevil at first,” Pernut said.
“When he began to win some Grand Prix, Aprilia Marketing called the American director, who spent $200 million over that period and communicated with Valentino.
“He was a demanding manager and one night the veil called me.
“I told him: “Be patient and spent $200 million.”
“And he had already gone to his house in Tavuria. But he was very kind, we forgiven him.”
The first four years of Rossi’s Grand Prix race were spent with Aprilia, winning two championships in two classes before his legend joined Honda, where he grew up.
Valentino Rossi fans on A-list ask for autographs
Valentino Rossi
Later in his own MotoGP career, Pernat was asked by an A-list celebrities to meet Rossi.
“I met Brad Pitt (a fan of Valentino Rossi), a very ordinary person, and he came with his son,” explained Pernut.
“The other person arrived in jeans, a t-shirt, a backpack and a motorcycle: Keene Reeves. All great characters.
“I also met Pamela Anderson, and although I hated her more, Tom Cruise.
“And guess who asked me to sign…
“We were in Donington Park, England in 1994. In hospitality, I asked this person: “Are you Carlo Pernut? Do you have a signature?”
“I gave him a sign. The photographer immediately stopped me and said, ‘Who is that? Do you know George Harrison?’
“The Beatles singer is a great motorcycle enthusiast and I didn’t recognize him. I followed him to ask him for a photo. The original autographed is surrounded by my house.”