Valentino Rossi kept everyone in suspense, scheduling a mysterious press conference for 16.15 pm today, 5 August. Various scenarios, among which the most quoted was that of a his retirement at the age of 42 years.
A suspicion proved to be well founded, considering the words of the champion from Tavullia, one of the protagonists of this beloved sport for decades. Fans will have a hard time seeing the new lists of participants in the World Cup. His will be an absence that will be felt, from the track to the world that revolves around racing: “I have decided to stop. It was a difficult decision. It is hard to imagine that I will no longer run in my life. Everything will change".
Valentino Rossi retires
August 5, 2021 is in fact already a historic date for the world of MotoGP. He will always be remembered for the farewell of nine-time World Champion Valentino Rossi. Well 25 years of career, as the absolute protagonist for most of them. Lots of battles, incredible challenges and triumphs. However, the time has also come for him to come to terms with his age, which has inevitably undermined his chances of remaining competitive in recent years.
He called a press conference for the occasion and, in front of journalists and Carmelo Ezpeleta, number 1 of Dorna, said what he thought with no little emotion, badly concealed by his usual smile: “I decided to stop at the end of the season. Making this decision was really tough. If it had been up to me, I would have loved to have been able to race for another 25 years. However, the time has come to say enough is enough. Unfortunately this will be my last season as a MotoGP rider. I will not be racing with a motorcycle next year. It is something very difficult to say. This is a sad time. This has been my life for almost 30 years and from 2022 everything will change from a certain point of view. But it was really great and I had a lot of fun. There were unforgettable moments ”.
VR46
Valentino explained that he had considered some options. One above all the one that would have led him to race with his team, VR46. In the end, however, he decided to close it here, aware of how splendid his long adventure in this splendid sport was. In all sports, it is the results that make the difference, he explained, as if to underline that he no longer wants to race with the almost certainty of not being able to compete fully for the success of the World Championship.
There is still half of the season to play, which now will have a completely different flavor. Each race will be his last in that given circuit: “I have always given everything and try to do it even now to stay on top until the end. Certainly the last race will be the most difficult of all. The decision I made during the season. At first I thought I would decide in the summer and it did. I wanted to continue when I started, but it was necessary to understand if I was fast enough. Race after race I started to reflect and so I decided ".
Valentino Rossi's future
Impossible not to wonder what Valentino Rossi will do after his official farewell to MotoGP. Difficult to see him in a suit and tie, behind a desk managing the balance of his team: “I love racing with cars, maybe just less than with motorcycles. Therefore i think i will run with cars, but it is still an ongoing process. I haven't made any decisions. I feel like a motorbike and car rider and I will be one for my whole life. I think I'll race anyway ”.
Photo source: https://twitter.com/ValeYellow46
