“I don’t have a lot to say, just this.” Valentino Rossi will retire from motorcycle racing at the conclusion of the season, according to a wild understatement at the end of a hugely dramatic press conference.
To you and me, that’s Valentino Rossi, the nine-time world champion. 423 race starts have resulted in 115 victories; 363 MotoGP/500cc starts have resulted in 55 pole positions, 89 victories, 199 podiums, and seven premier-class titles. Look at how much the victories outnumber the poles – here is a man who can slink his way through a grid with his back to the wall.
Those times aren’t as common now that he’s 42, and ‘VR46’ has decided it’s time to retire. In the lead-up to this weekend’s Styrian Grand Prix at Austria’s Red Bull Ring, he began his statement, “I decided to stop at the end of the season.”
“Unfortunately this will be my last season as a MotoGP rider. Its difficult; it’s a very sad moment because it’s difficult to say – and to know – that next year I will not race with a motorcycle. I’ve been doing this thing for more or less 30 years, so next year my life will change.”
MotoGP, as a whole, will benefit from it. To a large number of fans, Rossi is MotoGP, and it’s easy to see the sport’s popularity in Italy decreasing significantly beginning in 2022. Vale’s absence from the sport would be surprising, as Rossi now owns his own team.
He’s also dabbled with four wheels throughout his career and he’s hinted he’d like to race at the Le Mans 24 Hours. “I always love racing with cars,” he said. “During this career I always tried to improve my skills with cars, to make some kilometres to be ready for this moment, but I don’t know my level.
The uniforms of MOTOGP racing drivers are currently available at the following websites for a reasonable price:
