Rossi's career will still run its course in 2021, and apparently to the dismay of some of his compatriots. Of Feathered à Gresini passing by Briatore, the Doctor is called to retire. However, he will be a Petronas Yamaha satellite rider next season, alongside Morbidelli who he saw grow up. A longevity which places it astonishingly in the statistics. The proof …
Red will still be a Grand Prix driver in 2021, and at the respectable age of 42. It will be recalled that the World Champion Joan mir is 23 and Dovizioso as Crutchlow chose to leave the stage at 34 and 35 respectively. The second oldest driver on the starting grid next year will be a Aleix Espargaró of 31 years.
During his brilliant career, in addition to nine world titles, Valentino Rossi won in MotoGP 115 victories, 235 podiums and 65 pole positions. Amazing figures which make us understand the exceptionality of this great champion.
The Doctor, in 2021, will have a particularity. As reported by “ mowmag.com“, due to the withdrawals of Dovizioso et Crutchlow, at the start of next season, all the podiums obtained in MotoGP by Vale (199) will be greater than the sum of podiums obtained in the same category by all the drivers who participate.
Being and lasting is Rossi's secret
Also counting Marc Marquez, who has obtained so far 94 podiums in the premier category, the total podiums would in fact be 195, so 4 less than those obtained by the Doctor. If the Spaniard does not participate in the first races of the next championship, the total sum of podiums obtained by the other drivers would be a little more than half of those won by Valentino Rossi (101).
Behind Marquez, the rider with the most podiums in MotoGP is Maverick Vinales, who conquered 26. Figures which confirm the generational change underway in the premier category. But that's not all. Valentino Rossi also leads in this particular statistic which calculates the difference in time elapsed between the first victory and the last achievement. The veteran Yamaha won his first victory in 1996 at the Brno Grand Prix and his last success dates back to the year 2017 in the Assen Grand Prix. What makes us 20 years and 311 days of difference. A record.
