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Valentino Rossi began the defense of his 2009 World Championship by winning the first race of the 2010 season at Losail. Of course we had no idea at the time, but it would be his final victory, to date, in Qatar.

After podiums in Jerez and Le Mans, Rossi would break his leg at Mugello and end his run of consecutive races. He’d finish third in the 2010 Championship, with one more victory at Sepang.

Photograph: ©2010 by Scott Jones / PHOTO.GP – All Rights Reserved