We know that the oldest member of the MotoGP field is Rossi who is well into his forties. In 2021, he will have his twenty-sixth season within a satellite team as the representative of a generation that is no longer even in orbit... The one who now follows him in the age pyramid is Aleix Espargaró who claims 31 years. Vale talks about these more than ten years gap and is well aware of the scale of the challenge he has decided to take on...
Valentino Rossi looks around before finishing his 2020 exercise and he sees that he is seriously lowering the average age of the MotoGP field. Cal Crutchlow, 34 years old, and a year older Andrea Dovizioso are indeed gone and only one remains Aleix Espargaró just thirty years old to follow him on the civil status files recorded in MotoGP.
A big gap of which the Doctor is well aware: “ the end of a career is something I don't like very much to be honest ", said Valentino Rossi. " Cal was also a Superbike rider, but he went on to have a remarkable career in MotoGP. I have a lot of memories with him, we fought in many races. I remember his first victory in Brno in 2016, in the wet, when he won and I finished second ».
He continues on the other departure: “ I have known Dovi for a very, very long time. We have already ridden against each other on minibikes. We also had a lot of great fights, I think Malaysia 2016, for example, when he won before me, but we fought the whole race ", declared the Italian from 41 years about his compatriot.
Rossi: “Age is only a factor”
« Unfortunately, the two elders left me. Now the difference is even bigger “, sighs the one who was born in 1979. “ There has been a strong generational change during these years, many drivers have progressed ". A development which will not make his task easy next year. But Valentino Rossi does not want to retain only age as a determining factor in a career: “ yes, I am older than Dovizioso, Pedrosa or Jorge Lorenzo, for example, they were part of the younger generation. But I believe that everyone has their story, their motivation and their passion. Age is only one factor, but not the only one. There are many different things to consider "He said.
Regarding his decision to continue, the future Petronas pilot said: “ I'm happy because I will also drive next year. We hope we can be competitive. It's difficult because young drivers keep getting stronger. So it's a big challenge, but I want to try ", ended Red which also approaches other capital decisions, such as marriage and fatherhood…
