Rossi talks Tavullia.

Valentino Rossi may call the bustling British capital city of London home now, but the MotoGP superstar grew up in a very different environment - being born in a small town called Tavullia near the north east coast of Italy, which he was eventually forced to leave as his worldwide fame increased.

"It is a little bit different to London!" said Rossi of his birth place. "It is very, very small and has only one street, which splits into two parts. It's a great place. It's near the sea which is good in the summer.

Rossi fan club in Tavullia, Italian MotoGP 2005
Rossi fan club in Tavullia, Italian MotoGP 2005
© Gold and Goose

Valentino Rossi may call the bustling British capital city of London home now, but the MotoGP superstar grew up in a very different environment - being born in a small town called Tavullia near the north east coast of Italy, which he was eventually forced to leave as his worldwide fame increased.

"It is a little bit different to London!" said Rossi of his birth place. "It is very, very small and has only one street, which splits into two parts. It's a great place. It's near the sea which is good in the summer.

"It is not in the centre of a big town or anything so it is very quiet. A lot of my friends grew up there with me. It is a little bit different to anywhere else. I think I am very lucky to have been born there," added the Gauloises Yamaha rider.

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