MotoGP: 6 Most memorable races of Valentino Rossi 

#4 Phillip Island 2003

Valentino Rossi won the race despite receiving a penalty

Valentino Rossi started the 2003 Australian Grand Prix on pole position, and with the pace he had shown that weekend, it looked like yet another comfortable win for the Italian rider.

However, things changed dramatically when Rossi was penalised 10 seconds for overtaking under yellow flags. Unfettered by the penalty, the prolific Italian went on to cross the chequered flag first, ahead of Loris Capirossi and Nicky Hayden.

Despite the 10-second penalty, Rossi had built enough gap in the front, which allowed him to register a race win with a margin of over five seconds.

#3 Laguna Seca 2008

Rossi and Stoner exchanged the lead for the better part of the race

Casey Stoner started the race at the Laguna Seca Circuit from the pole position while Rossi started alongside him in the second place. The defending world champion held his ground during the initial stages of the race, but the Italian mounted every-increasing pressure on the Australian.

With nine laps to go, Rossi pulled off an outrageous manoeuvre at the famous corkscrew that forced Stoner wide into the gravel. Since then, the Italian won the race unchallenged to claim his first win at the Laguna Seca Circuit.

Stoner finished second despite his earlier incident, and a tense podium after the race gave an idea about the will of these men to get one over the another on the race track.