Valentino Rossi presented La mia storia at Milan’s Teatro Nazionale on 9 November. Written with Giorgio Terruzzi, the 480-page book is published by Rizzoli. Its subject matter reaches beyond race-weekend memories, addressing personal episodes alongside the events that defined Rossi’s public career.

Rizzoli general manager Massimo Turchetta said that, during his tenure, only three other books had been planned with a larger number of editions and translations into more than 50 languages. The earlier examples, he said, were works by three popes. Among those attending the Milan presentation were Cesare Cremonini, Lucio Corsi, Guido Meda, Gianluca Gazzoli and Paolo Beltramo.

The conversation began with superstition before moving to the death of Marco Simoncelli. Rossi said that thinking back to 2015 still brings back the same feelings he had at the time. La mia storia also covers his problem with the Italian tax authorities between 2006 and 2007, as well as his relationship with his father, Graziano. Rossi said he had not expected their falling-out and that he does not regard the possibility of repairing the relationship as closed.

Rossi and Terruzzi considered numerous alternatives before settling on the book’s title; Terruzzi would have chosen Domenica. Rossi also joked about Marc Marquez, who is nearing a tenth world title, saying that ten days of peace remained before the overtake. A lighter moment involved a present Francesca Novello brought for “Frankie”—a gift that turned out to be a dog.