Monterey, CA — Five time MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi can have any car he wants during his brief stay in the U.S. for the Red Bull Grand Prix. So what does he ask for? A Ferrari from his home country of Italy? Or maybe a comfortable and inconspicuous Mercedes S-Class? Not quite, try a Cadillac Escalade, preferably in black.
"It began last year," said Bob Starr, Motorsports General Manager, National Communications Yamaha Motor Corporation. "Valentino had always been so good with the fans in the U.S. that I told him I would line up anything he wanted for his stay in town. When a classic 60's Cadillac convertible fell through, his next choice was an Escalade. He loved it so much, he asked for an Escalade again this year, and again he wanted black" said Starr.
Giving Rossi what he wanted off the track translated directly into getting what Yamaha was hoping for on the track. After an epic battle with defending MotoGP champion Casey Stoner that included a harrowing, off-track pass through Laguna¿s famous cork screw turn, Rossi pulled away in the second half of the race for an easy victory at the 2008 Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix.
What this means to you: Big American SUVs may have lost their luster in the U.S., but to the rest of the world, a big black Cadillac is still a sought after status symbol. — Ed Hellwig, Lead Senior Editor
"It began last year," said Bob Starr, Motorsports General Manager, National Communications Yamaha Motor Corporation. "Valentino had always been so good with the fans in the U.S. that I told him I would line up anything he wanted for his stay in town. When a classic 60's Cadillac convertible fell through, his next choice was an Escalade. He loved it so much, he asked for an Escalade again this year, and again he wanted black" said Starr.
Giving Rossi what he wanted off the track translated directly into getting what Yamaha was hoping for on the track. After an epic battle with defending MotoGP champion Casey Stoner that included a harrowing, off-track pass through Laguna¿s famous cork screw turn, Rossi pulled away in the second half of the race for an easy victory at the 2008 Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix.
What this means to you: Big American SUVs may have lost their luster in the U.S., but to the rest of the world, a big black Cadillac is still a sought after status symbol. — Ed Hellwig, Lead Senior Editor
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