AGV Sports Group has sponsored riders including road racers Devin Battley, Troy Bayliss, Randy Mamola, Loris Capirossi, Kurtis Roberts, Ben Bostrom, Eric Bostrom, Roland Sands, Miguel Duhamel, and Mat Mladin.
He stayed in the team for the 2005 season, which saw him become competitive by the end of the year, aided by improving Bridgestone tyres.
With Rossi struggling to find consistency, he was a major challenger, along with Ducati's Loris Capirossi and Honda riders Nicky Hayden and Dani Pedrosa.