The legendary MotoGP rider, Valentino Rossi, is set to host the 11th edition of his iconic 100km dei Campioni dirt track race at his Moto Ranch in Tavullia this weekend. This highly anticipated event, which began in 2014, showcases the skills of riders competing in pairs. The inaugural race saw the talented duo of Nicolo Bulega and Lorenzo Baldassarri claim victory, with Bulega, a future WorldSBK runner-up, and Baldassarri, a Moto2/WSS race winner, forming an impressive partnership. The following year, Rossi himself dominated, securing his first of six 'home' wins, most notably alongside his younger brother, Luca Marini.
Over the years, Rossi has faced some formidable opponents. Franco Morbidelli and Mattia Pasini ended his winning streak in 2017, and in 2022, Baldassarri and Elia Bartolini achieved a rare victory against the legendary rider. Despite his retirement from MotoGP at the end of 2021, Rossi's influence remains strong, as evidenced by his most recent victory in the 9th edition, once again alongside Marini. The 10th edition introduced a new dynamic with Diogo Moreira and Thomas Chareyre, forming the first non-Italian victory pairing, and they will return for the 11th edition, where Moreira, a 2026 LCR Honda rider, is among the six current MotoGP riders participating.
The 100km dei Campioni has witnessed a range of talented riders, and the 11th edition promises an exciting lineup. The full entry list includes Valentino Rossi, Pedro Acosta, Dominique Aegerter, Senna Agius, David Alonso, Niccolò Antonelli, Xavier Artigas, Francesco Bagnaia, Lorenzo Baldassarri, Barry Baltus, Elia Bartolini, Daniel Bewley, Marco Bezzecchi, Nicolò Bulega, Mattia Casadei, Francesco Cecchini, Thomas Chareyre, Filippo Farioli, Augusto Fernández, Matteo Ferrari, Alessandro Lupino, Federico Fuligni, Filippo Fuligni, Matteo Gabarini, Marco Gaggi, Manuel González, Dean Harrison, Chris Holder, Andrea Mantovani, Luca Marini, Guy Martin, Andrea Migno, Jack Miller, Diogo Moreira, Tim Neave, Iván Ortolá, Luca Ottaviani, Mattia Pasini, Matteo Patacca, Lorenzo Pritelli, Tito Rabat, Bradley Ray, Alberto Surra, Davey Todd, Andrea Verona, and Celestino Vietti. This event is a testament to Rossi's enduring legacy and his commitment to fostering talent in the world of dirt track racing.
