Rossi kept up his tradition of a special helmet for home GPs, with his AGV lid sporting words and pictures based on the “Back to the Future II” movie, with Rossi as time traveller Marty McFly and crew chief Silvano Galbusera as mad scientist Doc.

The “Back to Misano” theme reflects that he missed last year’s race at the track barely 10 km from his home town of Tavullia after breaking his leg in an enduro accident.

You could almost here the cash registers ringing over the noise of the bikes.

By Michael Scott