WORLD CHAMP VALENTINO ROSSI EAGER TO RACE IN CALIFORNIA SUN MotoGP’s Dominant Force Ready to Take His Shot at Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix MONTEREY, Calif. – Valentino Rossi is just having fun – winning will do that for just about anybody. But, the personable Italian gives one the impression he’d have a good time just about anywhere he went. Rossi was the focal point of a media teleconference Friday to give his views on the return of MotoGP to American soil for the first time in 10 years when the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix takes Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca by storm July 8-10. Rossi has won the MotoGP World Championship, the Formula One of motorcycle racing, the past four consecutive years – take that Michael Schumacher – but the Michael Jordan of two-wheel racing has never been to the world-renowned 2.238-mile, 11-turn tester at the “dry lake.” Nor has he previously been to California. “I know Laguna Seca only from television,” Rossi said. He’s tested his skills on the technically-challenging twists, turns and elevation changes of the picturesque facility nestled in the hills of the former Fort Ord army base on PlayStation, “So I know the layout,” Rossi said. “But, I have never been there. “I’m very happy to come to California. I was in the U.S. five or six years ago but only for one week (and not in the Golden State). I am happy to come to California where the sun and beautiful girls are.” At the tender age of 25, Rossi is in his 10th season of chasing championships around the world. He started in 1996 in the 125cc GP series, finishing ninth, but learning the bikes and the tracks along the way. The next year, he was the champ, winning 11 races along the way. In ’98, he moved up to 250cc bikes, finished second in the title chase as he learned his way around and won the championship the next season with nine race victories. See a pattern here? In 2000, Rossi made the big time with a MotoGP (it was 500cc World Championship at the time) contract. He was second in the championship that season, then jumped all over the best riders in the world for an incredible run of four straight titles coming into this year, logging 11 wins in ’01 and again in ’02 and nine each in the past two seasons. He started 2005 where he left off in ’04, at the top of the heap with a thrilling last lap, last turn victory in the opener at Jerez in Spain, but not without some controversy as he collided with Sete Giberneau, sending the Spaniard into the gravel pit on the pass for the win. Rossi’s Yamaha teammate, Colin Edwards, the “Texas Tornado,” said Friday, “Personally, if I was Valentino, I’d have done the same thing. I’m a motocrosser, so it’s fine with me. It’s the last lap and the last corner, so you’ve got to go for it. It’s do or die. I don’t see anything wrong with it.” Rossi said he received a letter from the president of the FIM (the international governing body of motorcycle racing) following the race. “He said the overtaking was hard but not over the limit,” Rossi said. “He did not say ‘Don’t do it again.’ He said ‘Don’t make it any worse.'” Edwards has raced and won at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca – during his American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) days and in World Superbike Championship competition – and Rossi will draw on his American teammate’s experience for help getting in the groove here. “Speaking with Colin, he says Laguna Seca is a very good place to be,” said Rossi, who is obviously more comfortable speaking Italian but handles English quite well. “For me, I’ve never been to Laguna Seca so it’s a little bit of disadvantage.” He’ll rely on Edwards for his initial setup of the Yamaha YZR-M1. “Colin knows the track very well and for sure will be a big help,” Rossi said. “Laguna is difficult because you go up and down a lot. It is very technical, particularly the Corkscrew (the left-right-hander Turns 8 and 8A).” Though teammates, Edwards and Rossi are competitors on track, yet they readily share information with one another. “It’s been great (having Rossi as a teammate),” Edwards said. “I couldn’t think of anybody I’d rather have as a teammate. We get along great; it’s fun.” Rossi seems to be excited wherever he’s going and Edwards is stoked to be coming “home” for a race. “I can’t wait to get to Laguna Seca,” Edwards said. “I think the Yamaha is going to work well there. It’s not a high-horsepower track. Laguna is the Hollywood of motorcycle racing. There are good people, good food and great atmosphere there. The place is unbelievable. MotoGP belongs there; it’s about time. “I think it is going to be a good event. It’s impossible to make everybody (all the riders) happy, but I think at the end of the weekend, everybody is going to go away with a smile on their face.” Based on pre-event ticket sales for the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix, there are a ton of folks ready for the return of MotoGP to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and that helps build the anticipation among the riders. “Everyone says the fan (base) in the United States is becoming bigger and bigger and they are very excited about MotoGP,” Rossi said. “Maybe (a part of that) is because there are (four) Americans in it.” And one supremely happy and very gifted Italian champion that draws a crowd wherever he sets foot. Tickets to the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix are on sale now by calling (800) 327-SECA or (831) 648-5111, or logging on to www.ticketmaster.com or www.laguna-seca.com.