P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Valentino Rossi’s 1996 Aprilia RS125R is set to be auctioned by RM Sotheby’s.
Aprilia currently dominates MotoGP, with Marco Bezzecchi leading the 2026 riders’ standings after five rounds; however, it was Valentino Rossi who made history with Aprilia 30 years ago.
In 1996, Rossi won his first race in the 125cc World Championship at Brno in his rookie year, setting the stage for his illustrious career.
By 2009, Rossi had amassed nine world titles, two of which were with Aprilia in the 125cc and 250cc classes before moving to the 500cc category with HRC.
The legacy of Rossi in MotoGP has made all of his bikes iconic, especially the early models like the AGV-sponsored Aprilia RS125R from 1996, which will soon be auctioned by RM Sotheby’s.
The bike is estimated to fetch between €100,000 (£85,000) and €150,000 (£130,000) and comes with factory team sheets documenting Rossi’s race entries during the 1996 season.
Despite finishing ninth in the 1996 riders’ standings, Rossi’s debut season paved the way for his remarkable career, which concluded in 2020 after scoring one podium in his final year with Yamaha.
