Jerez, Spain - Phileas Fogg did it in 80 days, but not at racing speeds. Now m
otorcycle racing legend Valentino Rossi is about to complete a lap of the world.
Or, more precisely, he will have raced the equivalent of one lap around the Earth - 40 075km - at this Sunday's Spanish MotoGP. It will be the Italian Yamaha rider's 369th Grand Prix and he will complete his 'round-the-world' trip on lap 15 of the Jerez circuit, which will be his 8730th overall lap in a remarkable 23 year career.
In setting this momentous 'globe circumnavigating' feat at racing speeds 'The Doctor' has amassed some other amazing statistics along the way, including 115 wins, 228 podiums and nine world championships across four categories - seven of them in the premier class.
Rossi is first in all time premier class (500cc/MotoGP) race wins with 89 victories and second in all time overall wins, with his 115 victories trailing only Giacomo Agostini's 122.
He's also set 64 pole positions and 95 fastest laps in 366 starts across all four categories (125cc, 250cc, 500cc and MotoGP).
While Rossi hasn't won a MotoGP title since 2009, the 39 year old rider remains a consistent front runner against younger rivals like Marc Marquez (the reigning champion), Jorge Lorenzo and Yamaha team-mate Maverick Vinales.
Showing little signs of slowing down, he will remain in MotoGP until at least the end of 2020 after recently signing a two-year contract extension with the factory Yamaha team. This will be a relief to the charismatic rider's legions of fans who can be seen thronging the stands at each race waving yellow flags imprinted with his iconic 46 racing number.