MotoGP News

Is your picture on Valentino Rossi's helmet? Well, if you're a special friend or team member of Fiat Yamaha team, it just may be. A select group of Rossi's friend will get extremely close to the nine-time world champion at Laguna Seca this weekend for Round 9 of the 2010 MotoGP Championship.

Well, they may not physically be close to "The Doctor" as he pilots his machine around Laguna Seca, but their pictures will be close. Unveiled Saturday for the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix, Rossi will be donning a special AGV helmet, featuring the faces of friends and team members.

The idea was inspired by the special Laguna Seca livery designed on the Fiat Yamaha race bikes of both Rossi and teammate Jorge Lorenzo. The Yamaha M1 machines feature 500 photos of fans that each one sent to the team website in hope of landing a spot on one of the bikes.

Fiat Yamaha says the livery celebrates the impending release of the Fiat 500 car in the United States.

At qualifying for today's race, Rossi secured sixth, repeating his position from both free practice sessions as he continues his recovery from a broken leg.