Motorcycle legend and nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi On Thursday, he confirmed that after 26 years enlightening the sport, he will be retiring at the end of the season.
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The 42-year-old Italian signed a one-year deal with Yamaha-SRT for this campaign and it was contemplated that he could ride for his own team for the next season.
However, he said at a press conference ahead of the Styrian Grand Prix this weekend that he would retire 12 years after his last MotoGP title.
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“I decided to quit at the end of the season” said Rossi.
“It was a very long journey, but it was really good fun.”
“It’s a very sad moment because it’s hard to say and to know that I won’t be riding a motorcycle next year, I think I’ll be doing that for more or less 30 years.”
Valentino Rossi will end his career with seven world championship titles in the premier class – just one behind compatriot Giacomo Agostini’s all-time record of eight.
He has contested 423 Grand Prix races, 363 of them in the top class.
In recent years, the man got the nickname “The doctor” Combine the competition with owning his own VR46 team to bring young riders into Moto2 and Moto3 and for the next season he will be able to focus on that mentoring role.
High praise for his outstanding career came from rivals, including French star Fabio Quartararo, his successor on the Yamaha factory team, who is leading this year’s title race.
“I have no words… Congratulations on your great career! I will remember the first race I saw you in Jerez in 2005 and you motivated me to be where I am today. “ tweeted Quartararo.
Valentino Rossi won top category world titles in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008 and 2009 after starting with a 125cc crown in 1997 before winning a 250cc title two years later.
Overall, Rossi took 235 podiums, 199 of them in the premier class, and posted 115 victories – 89 in MotoGP / 500cc, 14 in 250cc and another 12 in 125cc while collecting 65 pole positions.
After his first 125cc race in Malaysia in 1996, he lost little time to take a first win in the Czech Republic that same year, before advancing to the premier class in 2000 and his first success at the British Grand Prix that same season celebrated at this level.
His last triumph came in 2017 in the Netherlands – a record 20 years and 311 days after his first 125cc victory.
But this season he has slipped the pecking order with Yamaha-SRT, as he is currently in 19th place with only 17 points.
“Valentino is a living legend whose success and personal flair have contributed greatly to the legacy and legacy of Yamaha.” said Yamaha CEO Lin Jarvis.
“In addition, his positive attitude would give his fellow men a boost in difficult times and he was always ready to go the extra mile for a good result.”
Valentino Rossi will leave motorcycling behind with a multitude of records:
– With 423 starts in all categories since 1996 and with 10 more on his way by the end of this season, Rossi is the marathon man in the sport who has been competing for 26 seasons.
– Twenty years and 311 days separated his first win in the 125cc class in the Czech Republic in 1996 and his last win in 2017 in the Netherlands in MotoGP.
– Sixteen years and 351 days separated his first victory in the sport’s premier class in Great Britain in 2000 and his last in the Netherlands in 2017, another record.
– Rossi has 89 victories in 500cc / MotoGP, more than Giacomo Agostini (68) and Marc Marquez (57).
– He has the record for most podiums with 199 in the top category, compared to 114 and 112 for Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa, respectively.
– The 42-year-old set 76 fastest laps in 500cc / MotoGP against 69 for Agostini and 57 for Marquez.
– In total, the nine-time world champion has 235 podiums in sport, of which 115 wins, 67 second and 53 third places, 65 pole positions and 96 best laps.
Fact file about Valentino Rossi, who announced on Thursday that he would retire from MotoGP at the end of the season. The Italian has won nine world titles in his 26-year career.
Name: Valentino Rossi
Nickname: The Doctor
Start number: 46
Date of birth: 02/16/1979
Place of birth: Urbino, Italy
Nationality: Italian
Height: 1.81 m²
Weight: 69kg
Results in 26 seasons in Grand Prix motorcycle racing:
World title: 9 (6 in MotoGP 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008 and 2009, 1 in 500 cc 2001, 1 in 250 cc 1999, 1 in 125 cc 1997)
423 Grand Prix contested (363 in MotoGP or 500cc, 30 in 250cc, 30 in 125cc)
235 podiums (199 in MotoGP or 500cc, 21 in 250cc, 15 in 125cc)
115 wins (89 in MotoGP or 500cc, 14 in 250cc, 12 in 125cc)
65 pole positions (55 in MotoGP or 500cc, 5 in 250cc, 5 in 125cc)
96 fastest race laps (76 in MotoGP or 500cc, 11 in 250cc, 9 in 125cc)
First GP: Malaysia 1996 (125cc)
First win: Czech Republic 1996 (125cc)
First premier class GP: South Africa 2000 (500cc)
First victory in the premier class: Great Britain 2000 (500cc)
Last win: Netherlands 2017 (MotoGP)
Seasons
2021: MotoGP (Yamaha-SRT), 17 points, 19th in the drivers’ championship, ongoing
2020: MotoGP (Yamaha), 1 podium, 66 points, 15th
2019: MotoGP (Yamaha), 2 podiums, 174 points, 7th
2018: MotoGP (Yamaha), 5 podiums, 1 pole, 198 points, 3rd place
2017: MotoGP (Yamaha), 6 podiums including 1 victory, 208 points, 5th
2016: MotoGP (Yamaha), 10 podiums including 2 wins, 3 pole, 249 points, 2nd place
2015: MotoGP (Yamaha), 15 podiums including 4 wins, 1 pole, 325 points, 2.
2014: MotoGP (Yamaha), 13 podiums, including 2 wins, 1 pole, 295 points, 2.
2013: MotoGP (Yamaha), 6 podiums including 1 victory, 237 points, 4th
2012: MotoGP (Ducati), 2 podiums, 163 points, 6.
2011: MotoGP (Ducati), 1 podium, 139 points, 7th
2010: MotoGP (Yamaha), 10 podiums, including 2 wins, 1 pole, 233 points, 3rd place
2009: MotoGP (Yamaha), 13 podium places, including 6 wins, 7 pole positions, 306 points, 1st place
2008: MotoGP (Yamaha), 16 podium places, of which 9 wins, 2 pole positions, 373 points, 1st place
2007: MotoGP (Yamaha), 8 podiums, including 4 wins, 4 poles, 241 points, 3rd place
2006: MotoGP (Yamaha), 10 podiums including 5 wins, 5 pole, 247 points, 2.
2005: MotoGP (Yamaha), 16 podium places, of which 11 wins, 5 pole positions, 367 points, 1st place
2004: MotoGP (Yamaha), 11 podium places, of which 9 wins, 5 pole positions, 304 points, 1st place
2003: MotoGP (Honda), 16 podium places, of which 9 wins, 9 pole positions, 357 points, 1st place
2002: MotoGP (Honda), 15 podium places, of which 11 wins, 7 poles, 355 points, 1st place
2001: 500cc (Honda), 13 podium places, of which 11 wins, 4 poles, 325 points, 1st place
2000: 500cc (Honda), 10 podiums, including 2 wins, 209 points, 2.
1999: 250cc (Aprilia), 12 podium places, of which 9 wins, 5 pole positions, 309 points, 1st place
1998: 250ccm (Aprilia), 9 podiums, including 5 wins, 201 points, 2.
1997: 125cc (Aprilia), 13 podiums, of which 11 wins, 4 poles, 321 points, 1st place
1996: 125ccm (Aprilia), 2 podiums, including 1 win, 1 pole, 111 points, 9th