Valentino Rossi Wins Casco d'Oro Award for Motorcycle Racing

Valentino Rossi might just have had his most successful season in the MotoGP series. Apart from clinching his 9th world title in the FIM World Motorcycle Championship (and 7th in the MotoGP), the Italian rider also received a bunch of awards for his impressive campaign throughout the year of 2009.

During the huge motorcycle racing award night in Bologna, Rossi took back what was righteously his: the Casco d'Oro award for the best motorcycle rider of the last season, the highest prize in Italy that regards not only the riders in the MotoGP championship, but also the ones included in the World Superbike pack.

Last year, the title was won by multiple WSBK champion Troy Bayliss, who announced his definitive quit from motorcycle racing.

Rossi had an outstanding season in the MotoGP series this year, clinching the series' title one round before the finish line and also recording his 100th MotoGP win in career. Second overall in the Casco d'Ora standings was none other than World Superbike champion Ben Spies, who became champion at his very first appearance in the series.

Spies ended the WSBK season as the winningest rider in the championship – 14 wins out of 28 races – and will debut in the MotoGP next year on a satellite Yamaha prepared by Tech 3 team.

The last place on the Casco d'Oro podium was MX1 motocross king Antonio Cairoli.

In addition to his award this week, Rossi was also proud to find out that he was voted as the “Top Rider of the 2009 Year” by the readers of Italian magazine Motosprint.