Valentino Rossi says he decided against headlining his own VR46 Racing Ducati team for its first MotoGP season in 2022 because he felt he was not influencing enough in just a single season.
Before the MotoGP in Styria this weekend, Rossi – seven-time 500GP / MotoGP world champion and 89-time race winner – confirmed that after 25 years on the international stage, he will hang up his motorcycle leather at the end of the MotoGP season in 2021.
It ends months of speculation over whether ‘The Doctor’ would end his career, stick with the Petronas SRT Yamaha team or – more intriguing – team up with its own VR46 racing team for its first season in the premier class in 2022.
Originating from the VR46 Rider Academy, VR46 Racing was created to promote young Italian talent in Moto3 and Moto2, with an appeal to youngsters including factory Ducati rider Pecco Bagnaia (2018 champion) and Avintia Ducati rider Luca Marini.
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Though Rossi was always reluctant to suggest he could compete in his outfit of the same name, a campaign to change his mind by Saudi Arabia’s Prince Abdulaziz bin Abdullah, who funded the team’s title sponsorship deal with Aramco, had gained momentum.
However, Rossi says another racing season would not produce the desired results as it is a new project and would require an awkward switch to Ducati machines.
“I had an offer from my team for next year, they offered a lot,” he joked. “Sincerely, I think deeply about it because I want to race for my team to have my bikes in Tavullia.
“I think we have a great Moto3 and Moto2 team with a lot of people I’ve known for a long time, for example some mechanics who worked with me on the 250 in 1988 and 1989.
“In the end I decided against it for a number of reasons – I have to change bikes and I think it’s a good project when you have two or three years to spare, but when you only have one season it’s more of a risk than [for] good things.
“That’s why I choose [not to join]. “
His decision is expected to pave the way for VR46 Moto2 rider Marco Bezzecchi to grab the vacant Ducati seat alongside Rossi’s brother Marini for his first season in MotoGP.