Valentino Rossi's Rise (2001-2003)

Lore & Background

Melandri's best years in MotoGP came in 2005 and 2006, with these two seasons being the only seasons he won races in MotoGP, the same as title rival Nicky Hayden. Melandri finished runner-up in 2005 to Valentino Rossi with two wins. The 2006 season is regarded as his best ever as he won three races and finished 24 points behind eventual champion Nicky Hayden. In both these seasons he won more races than title rival Hayden, finishing ahead of Hayden in 2005 and just behind him in 2006. Melandri has 22 race wins in Grand Prix motorcycle racing including five in MotoGP.

Reader's Guide

Melandri switched to the Superbike World Championship in 2011, earning 22 wins in his first six seasons finishing among the top five every time. Melandri retired from racing after the 2019 Superbike World Championship. After a brief return to Superbike in 2020 and racing in four rounds Melandri retired again.

Did You Know?

• Melandri won his first Grand Prix at Assen TT at age 15 years and 324 days, making him the youngest ever Grand Prix winner at the time.
• He became the youngest 250cc world champion at age 20 years and 74 days, a record later broken by Dani Pedrosa in 2004.
• Melandri was the first Honda rider to win back-to-back races for nearly two years, winning the final two rounds of the 2005 MotoGP Championship at Istanbul and Valencia.
• He achieved BMW's first Superbike World Championship victory at the European round at Donington Park.