Razlan Razali stood out. Before the Styrian Grand Prix began and kicked off the final part of the season, Valentino Rossi announced that this year would be the final year of his racing career for him. An emotional moment that everyone shared. The paddock was in unison to greet the champion, and his former rivals commented on the web. And his Petronas team? It was more mixed...
The atmosphere is weird at the moment in the Grand Prix paddock. The pilots give relative importance to the notion of contract, manufacturers are panicking and make announcements anyhow and whenever without resolving anything but sowing discord, and in all this, an icon leaves. History will remember that the last team of the nine-time World Champion Valentino Rossi will have been Petronas Yamahhas. Enough to stay in history and not make a fuss. And yet…
Certainly it is Yamaha which put the Doctor under the awning in Malaysian colors. It was not a choice Razlan Razali. And then there was the Yamaha story which offered its rider its bikes for his team VR46 under more favorable conditions than for Petronas. An episode almost confirmed by the illustrious future retiree who confided that he did not want to play this card so as not to create difficulties for the structure for which he is running.
Razali: “nous voulons qu’il s’amuse pour le reste de la saison”
A strange atmosphere therefore and it is also reflected in the Malaysian's comment on the subject of retirement: “ it was a great pleasure, a privilege to have Valentino Rossi in our team this year, the last for him “, he said, adding: “ but we would have liked better results. We know it was a difficult decision for him to retire permanently ».
For the " best results ", all the same, there are still a few Grands Prix before the end of this year to obtain them, even if the last Grand Prix of Styria was not encouraging. Razali also said on Tutomotoriweb : " we want him to have fun for the rest of the season. Knowing him, he will always want to give the best of himself, fighting for concrete results. We will always support him, until the end of the championship ". Enough to leave on good terms, despite everything...
