Last weekend Valentino Rossi’s Yamaha Giggle 50, which the 9-time World Champion rode through the paddock in 2008 and 2009, went up for auction. The scooter, signed by Rossi, raised no less than €17,000, much more than the estimated amount.
The Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola was the scene this past weekend for Minardi day, an event first organized in 2016 to bring Formula 1 back to Imola, more than 50 years of history to be exact.
Part of Minardi day was an auction orchestrated by auction house Giusti Aste of various Formula 1 memorabilia, classic (racing) cars and some signed stuff from Valentino Rossi, including the Yamaha Gille 50 with which he drove through the paddock in the 2008 and 2009 seasons.
The paddock scooter, which features Rossi’s graphics, was not mainly used by Valentino Rossi, but also by some members of the team as well as the official photographer of the Gigi Soldano Team. There are two special versions with Rossi curated graphics in circulation, one of which was auctioned during Minardi day.
The Rossi-signed Giggle 50 has only been used in European MotoGP races in the 2008 and 2009 seasons and has never been off the track. The proceeds were estimated in advance to be between €12,000 and €15,000, with a starting price of €7,000, but ultimately went under the hammer for €17,000.
Proceeds will go to the Medea La Nostra Famiglia Institute for the benefit of a research project on the autistic spectrum in the early years of life led by Professor Massimo Molteni.
– Thanks for information from Motorfreaks.