The idea of a Valentino Rossi who would like to stop after a busy career, but who could be forced to continue for both political and economic reasons, is gaining ground. A scenario controlled by an agreement between its brand VR46 and a saudi prince which indicates that by paying the orchestra, he chooses the music. And he wants to see the icon play for him. A situation which concerns former World Champion Kevin Schwantz who remembers his own end of career to better point out that pushing yourself like this on a Grand Prix bike is not without danger.
What about Valentino Rossi in 2022, the year he will celebrate his 43rd birthday? The nine-time World Champion vowed that the results would speak for him. Exactly, what are they? Valentino hasn't been on the podium for a year. His last place in the top 10 dates back to September in Misano. Last year, Vale finished 15th in the championship, and currently, they are 19th in the provisional general classification. Furthermore, he won his last title twelve years ago.
All in all, a well-deserved retirement seems inevitable. A trend that Kevin schwantz adote: “ it's hard to look at Valentino now, in the positions he is in today, where he qualifies and in the last positions and see where he finishes. He has never been this far in his entire career. This all seems quite dangerous ". To make himself understood, the Texan specifies: “ not only is he not competitive but he falls so often... These falls are not like him at all ».
Public chat speedweek,Kevin Schwantz remembers this moment when he also found himself at a crossroads. He makes this confession about a plane trip in 1995 which would have decided everything… “ At the time, I finished 5th, 4th and 6th in the first three races at Eastern Creek, Shah Alam and Suzuka. I had lost between 14 and 34 seconds on the winner. I was on the flight home from the Japanese Grand Prix, I was on the same plane as Wayne Rainey, who was team boss at the time. Wayne and Kenny Roberts were in first class, and my dad and I were in business class behind them ».
Schwantz: “maybe he will stop after the Misano Grand Prix”
« Kenny came to see me during the flight. He asked me: 'Come forward. Wayne wants to talk to you.” Wayne was immediately clear: “Kevin, you’re no longer enjoying driving!” You can say whatever you want. But you've lost the fun. The way you drive and you run the races, the group you fight with during the races, you can't take advantage of it. If I look at you today, it's not you anymore, don't tell me anything. I can watch and form an opinion ».
Schwantz relies on this episode to arrive at this conclusion: “ this is exactly what I see at Valentino today. In rare cases, he qualifies near the top ten. Then he struggles in the race ". And he ends: “ maybe he will stop after the Misano Grand Prix ". A symbolic deadline because there will be people in the stands…
