PICS: Valentino Rossi's new Sepang test helmet

This is the special helmet design that Valentino Rossi will use for 2019 pre-season testing, which began at Sepang on Wednesday.

The Italian superstar had revealed there would be a new design a few days earlier in Jakarta, saying:

"In Sepang I will have a new helmet, designed with Aldo Drudi that I will use for the tests this year, which is very interesting, you will see but it is something new. Very artistic. I think that it's very cool."

Some more pictures of Rossi's 2019 winter testing helmet...@ValeYellow46 @YamahaMotoGP#SepangTest #MotoGP pic.twitter.com/xWo8pGqIx8

— CRASH.NET/MotoGP (@crash_motogp) February 6, 2019

After unveiling the helmet, Rossi said: "As for every season’s tests, I made a special helmet for this year as well. It’s always a great experience to work on a special edition. We try to find new ideas every time, but it’s not always easy.

"For this year’s helmet, we had a hard time making up our minds, but at some point I looked at Aldo and I asked him to do something for me - to do what we used to do, pick up a paintbrush and draw the helmet freehand, like in years past. And that’s what we did!

"At first, Aldo was hesitant, but then he started to have a blast. When all was said and done, it came out great. Because they’re drawn by hand, each helmet is unique.”

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However it will not be used once the world championship gets underway in Qatar next month: "The helmet for the racing season will remain very similar to the helmet of last year. Maybe some small modifications, but very similar; blue and yellow."