One of the greatest motorcycle racers in history began his first Grand Prix career on this 125 cc Aprilia
Known as “The Doctor”, Valentino Rossi remains a dominant force in the modern MotoGP paddock, not only for his renowned charm, record 235 podiums, with 115 victories, and nine world championships, but also as the founder and owner of the VR46 academy and the brightly coloured MotoGP racing team that features regularly at the front of the grid.
Rossi’s distinguished career began on the grid of the 1996 Malaysian Grand Prix, when the 17-year-old Italian forced his helmet over a wild lock of hair before mounting his Aprilia RS125S motorcycle, complete with Scuderia AGV Aprilia team livery and the now-iconic 46 race number.
Rossi finished his first race in a respectable 6th place before continuing to ride this motorcycle, frame number 1291195, for the rest of the season. He won the first race of his rookie season at the Brno circuit in the Czech Republic.
With the 125 cc title secured in the 1997 season, Rossi moved to the 250 cc class to secure that title in 1999, before joining the 500 cc grid in 2000, where he would become world champion in 2001. The following year saw the dawn of MotoGP as the pinnacle class, where The Doctor would win a further seven championships.
Including paperwork confirming this was both the frame and engine that Rossi rode in his first Grand Prix, this Aprilia RS125S, which has had two owners since it was retired from racing, was sold via sealed bid in May 2026.
A sealed bid is a form of auction where bidders submit confidential bids independently by a specific deadline. The winning bid is the largest amount received.
Ian McLaren has more than 25 years of experience as a motoring journalist. Here, he will be compiling a series of articles documenting his learning curve when it comes to all things auction. Find him on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok at @IanMcLaren76.
These articles aim to offer insights only and in no way encourage reckless or hit-and-miss purchasing decisions.