For all of his achievements in MotoGP->ke2192 and his status as arguably the greatest motorcycle rider of all time, it is a little bit surprising that Valentino Rossi->ke1462 has never attended the Goodwood Festival of Speed->ke3879. All that’s about to change this year after the nine-time MotoGP world champion has been officially invited by event founder Lord Charles March to attend the annual automotive festival.

It’s not exactly a crowning achievement on the level of winning a tenth MotoGP title, but it’s still special in many ways for the man they call the Doctor. As I mentioned, this will be his first time to attend the festival and he isn’t coming alone, either. Fellow luminaries of the motorcycle racing world Casey Stoner and Kenny Roberts also got their own invitations, as did Rossi’s very own Yamaha YZR-M1 MotoGP bike, which he will use as part of an elaborate celebration to commemorate Yamaha’s 60th anniversary.

It’s only fitting that Rossi’s first run around the highly anticipated Hillclimb event will be with his bike, but he also indicated that he might get behind the wheel of a car or two at the event. For someone who has showcased his dominance on motorcycle racing, it would be really neat seeing the Doctor driving whatever sports car or supercar he can get his hands on.

The 2015 Goodwood Festival of Speed takes place from June 25 to June 28, 2015. Rossi’s schedule will be packed all weekend as his schedule will also include racing at the Dutch TT Assen MotoGP race on June 27. Rossi, together with Yamaha Motor Co. Executive Vice President Takaaki Kimura are expected to fly to the UK after taking part in the Dutch GP.

You have to give it to Rossi. His schedule is packed so tight that weekend that it wouldn’t have surprised me if he declined the invitation to go to the Goodwood Festival of Speed. But seeing as he’s never been to the event, something tells me that he’s going to find a way to make it happen, come hell or high water.

Continue reading to read more about Valentino Rossi’s attendance at the 2015 Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Why it matters

The Goodwood Festival of Speed is probably one of the most important events in the automotive calendar. It's not exactly an auto show in the traditional sense, but a lot of automakers, usually the local British brands, use the event as a place to showcase some of their newest models. But the real draw of the event is the annual hill climb, which draws sports cars, classic cars, supercars, and sometimes race cars from all over the world. The climb isn't an actual race in the traditional sense, but cars are allowed to do official timed runs around the grounds, and usually these runs become a little too competitive.

This year, one of the greatest motorcycle riders in the world will have his turn at the hill climb and it couldn't have come at a better time for Rossi and Yamaha. The company is celebrating its 60th anniversary and what better way to celebrate that by letting Rossi take a timed lap around the track with the Yamaha YZR-M1 MotoGP bike.

If any of you are planning to attend the Goodwood Festival of Speed this coming June, might I suggest you stick around long enough to catch a glimpse of Valentino Rossi and his YZR-M1 bike.

Opportunities like this come few and far in between so when it presents itself, do what Rossi says he plans to do at the event. Seize the moment and enjoy the sight of the Doctor finally attending the Goodwood Festival of Speed.