Rossi’s last MotoGP season “totally valid”

Rossi ended his illustrious MotoGP career in his 432nd and final Grand Prix at the Valencia Final last month.

The Italian had planned to spend the first half of 2020 evaluating his form to see if he should continue in 2021 but was forced to completely redesign this season’s calendar by the COVID-19 pandemic.

After making the decision to wait and see his form, Rossi was ousted from the Yamaha factory team in favor of Fabio Quartararo for 2021 and started with Petronas SRT on a factory-supported M1.

It was difficult to get results, however, as Rossi scored a best-of-eight with 44 points in a hectic Austrian Grand Prix on his way to his worst championship placement of 18.

Still, Jarvis believes that, in retrospect, Yamaha would have made the exact same decision that put Rossi on the road in 2021.

“26 years in the paddock, 16 years at Yamaha in two different terms,” ​​began Jarvis.

“Obviously Valentino wanted to start this year with the energy and effort to try again because last year was COVID, it was strange, we started in July, we had 14 races, there were no spectators.

“Lots and lots of things happened, so Valentino really wanted to try and do a full season and see if he could still be competitive.

“But at the beginning of the season it was clear that the level had to be raised again, all the young drivers were getting faster and faster; Fabio was incredibly quick, Maverick won the first race, etc.

“So it was never easy for him from the beginning of the year.

Valentino Rossi, Petronas Yamaha SRT

Valentino Rossi, Petronas Yamaha SRT

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

“And I’m sure he’ll be the first to admit that the season has been disappointing for him in terms of pure points and pure results.

“But I still think that his year was absolutely valid, and if we – even in retrospect – were faced with the same decision again, we would make the same decision again because I think he had to do this extra year to end his season in style. “

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