Speed, dirt, and pure adrenaline—Valentino Rossi’s iconic 100km of Champions is back for its 11th chapter, and the stakes have never been higher. This unique event, hosted at Rossi’s Moto Ranch in Tavullia, turns the quiet Italian countryside into a battleground of talent, teamwork, and passion as some of the biggest names in motorcycle racing go head-to-head in pairs on the dirt.
The 100km dei Campioni first roared to life in 2014, just a year after Rossi officially launched his VR46 Riders Academy—a program designed to coach the next generation of Italian racers. That inaugural race crowned two youthful prodigies: Nicolo Bulega, then just a rising star destined to become a WorldSBK runner-up, and Lorenzo Baldassarri, who had already made waves with victories in Moto2 and WorldSSP. Their win set the tone for what quickly became one of the most anticipated off-season events in motorcycling.
Enter Valentino Rossi—the man, the myth, the Doctor. Starting in 2015, Rossi began his dominant run, clinching six victories over the next several years, often alongside his younger brother, Luca Marini. Their chemistry and shared love for the sport made them the team to beat, transforming each edition into a family duel between generations of riders.
Yet, even Rossi wasn’t invincible. A few determined challengers managed to dethrone him—Franco Morbidelli and Mattia Pasini pulled off a major upset in 2017, while Baldassarri and Elia Bartolini did the same in 2022. Still, Rossi’s ninth-edition victory in 2024 proved that age and retirement from MotoGP, which came in 2021, hadn’t dulled his touch on the dirt.
The 10th edition, held in January 2025, marked a turning point. Brazilian sensation Diogo Moreira, who would later become Moto2 champion, teamed up with French supermoto ace Thomas Chareyre to form the first non-Italian duo to ever win the race. Their victory brought a fresh, international edge to an event long dominated by Italian flair—and stirred conversations about how global its impact had become.
Now, as the 11th edition approaches, the competition heats up again. Moreira and Chareyre will return to defend their crown, facing off against a stacked lineup that includes six current MotoGP riders—from veterans like Francesco Bagnaia to the ever-charismatic Rossi himself. The mix of rising rookies, dirt specialists, and world champions guarantees a weekend of thrilling unpredictability.
But here’s where it gets controversial... Can Rossi, the master of Tavullia, reclaim his throne against his own protégés and younger rivals? Or has the torch truly passed? Fans are divided—and that’s exactly what makes this clash so electrifying.
Below is the full record of victors so far, a who’s who of racing excellence, followed by the 2025 entry list that reads like a festival of motorsport royalty.
100km dei Campioni – Past Winners
1. 1st edition: Nicolo Bulega, Lorenzo Baldassarri
2. 2nd edition: Valentino Rossi, Luca Marini
3. 3rd edition: Valentino Rossi, Luca Marini
4. 4th edition: Franco Morbidelli, Mattia Pasini
5. 5th edition: Valentino Rossi, Franco Morbidelli
6. 6th edition: Valentino Rossi, Luca Marini
7. 7th edition: Valentino Rossi, Luca Marini
8. 8th edition: Lorenzo Baldassarri, Elia Bartolini
9. 9th edition: Valentino Rossi, Luca Marini
10. 10th edition: Diogo Moreira, Thomas Chareyre
Entry List – 11th Edition (2025)
Valentino Rossi, Pedro Acosta, Dominique Aegerter, Senna Agius, David Alonso, Niccolò Antonelli, Xavier Artigas, Francesco Bagnaia, Lorenzo Baldassarri, Barry Baltus, Elia Bartolini, Daniel Bewley, Marco Bezzecchi, Nicolò Bulega, Mattia Casadei, Francesco Cecchini, Thomas Chareyre, Filippo Farioli, Augusto Fernández, Matteo Ferrari, Alessandro Lupino, Federico Fuligni, Filippo Fuligni, Matteo Gabarini, Marco Gaggi, Manuel González, Dean Harrison, Chris Holder, Andrea Mantovani, Luca Marini, Guy Martin, Andrea Migno, Jack Miller, Diogo Moreira, Tim Neave, Iván Ortolá, Luca Ottaviani, Mattia Pasini, Matteo Patacca, Lorenzo Pritelli, Tito Rabat, Bradley Ray, Alberto Surra, Davey Todd, Andrea Verona, Celestino Vietti.
After two decades in the paddock, journalist Peter has watched Rossi’s journey from the height of his MotoGP career to this post-retirement renaissance. Having chronicled major stories like Suzuki’s MotoGP exit and Marc Marquez’s turbulent injury periods, he knows drama when he sees it—and this weekend’s showdown in Tavullia promises just that.
So, what do you think? Has Rossi still got what it takes to outshine the new generation on his home ground, or is this the year the next wave claims the dirt crown? Let’s hear your verdict in the comments—legendary legacy or new era?
