When Nike and Jordan came together, the brand and athlete propelled each other, and the same is true for Dainese and Rossi. Although Alpinestars rule the MotoGP grid in terms of quantity, it's Dainese's speed-demon logo and Italian flag found on AGVs that are etched into the minds of fans when they think of some of the most historic races from the modern era.
When you have a relationship like that, you have to celebrate birthdays together. Well, at a minimum, you have to celebrate Rossi's 46th birthday as that's the number he made arguably more famous than motorcycle racing itself.
For such an iconic racer, number, and birthday, you know the Italian brand isn't going to customize anything but its range-topping gear. So, the base of this limited-edition lineup consists of the Demone GP D-Air 3X suit and Pista GP RR helmet, which both feature the Soleluna Vale46 Anniversario graphics. Considering Rossi's riding style and nature of showmanship, I don't think it was possible to go over the top with the graphics.
The suit and helmet feature a mix of fluorescent yellow hue, jet black color, and gold-leaf details. The kit is as in-your-face as Rossi's riding career was, especially when you consider that The Doctor was known for telling stories through the graphics on his suits and helmets.
"I always wanted to share the most important stories in my life through my helmets and my suits. To all of you, I’ve always been the racing rider with the number 46. And you only turn 46 once. So, how else could I have celebrated, if not in the usual way?”, said Rossi when talking about the creation.
You might well have already guessed that there will only be 46 kits produced. Each one will be signed by the man himself and housed in a custom-made display case, which will make them more of a collector's item for some folks rather than a kit that'll be taken to track days regularly.
The price isn't listed, which means the kit is definitely going to be expensive. And if you want one, you'll need to sign-up for an email list and wait for further information.
Serial number 01/46 is reserved for a special charity, which is yet to be determined by Rossi and Dainese. How much would you pay to wrap yourself in this kit? Or would you keep it in its case?
