The title of this Valentino Rossi press conference announced in the morning left no doubt about its subject: VR46Decision, which means that the Doctor was finally going to reveal his plans for 2022, but like VR46 is also a logo involved in the competition , and in particular with stables, it was not excluded that we would also talk about it from this angle. Here's what comes out...
« My decision for next year I have decided to stop at the end of the year. This is my last half-season as a driver. I've been doing this for 30 years, it's been a long and enjoyable journey but my life has changed lately.".
« Hello everyone. I feel a little embarrassed here. As I said during the season, I made my decision about next year after the summer break. I decided to stop at the end of the season. Unfortunately this will be my last season as a MotoGP rider. It's difficult and it's a very sad time because it is difficult to say and know I will not race a motorcycle next year. I've been doing this for over 30 years. Next year my life will change in some ways, but regardless, it's been great and I've had a lot of fun. It's a very, very long journey, very, very fun, 25 or 26 years in the world championship. It was great and I had some incredible moments… »
Rossi: “I had the possibility of riding in my team with my brother but… “
There were tears in her eyes, but Vale held them back... “It’s difficult but you have to understand that in sport results make the difference. It's the right decision, I had the possibility of riding with my brother in the team, I would have liked it, but that's fine. I can't complain about my career. It was all a pure pleasure”.
« I decided during the summer break. The results were not in the spotlight. I'm going to do motorsport in 2022, but it's still being worked on"
BREAKING: @ValeYellow46 announces his retirement from #MotoGP 🏁
The Doctor will call time on his legendary career at the end of the season 🥺#VR46Decision | 📰https://t.co/yqL8DlULv7
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) August 5
« I'm not happy, but it's the right time. We will try to be better in the second half of the season. But I made the right choice. Honestly, two years ago and even last year, I wasn't ready to stop racing in MotoGP. Because I had to try everything, but now I'm OK, I'm calm. Of course I'm not happy, but if I had done another year next year I wouldn't have been happy. So it's the right time and we still have half a season left where I'm going to try to be stronger than in the first half. I'll give my best but I think it's the right choice »
Si Valentino Rossi failed to win that damn tenth title, he is the only rider to have won the crowns in 125cc, 250cc, 500cc and MotoGP.
Over the course of a career spanning more than a quarter of a century, the Italian has carved out a legend that will be difficult to match or surpass, whether on or off the track. New World's Championships, 115 victories and 235 podiums, and being the only competitor in history to have won titles in the 125cc, 250cc, 500cc and MotoGP categories, means that the name of Red will forever be in the history books. But his unique charisma, speed, racing sense and world domination – plus a touch of rock and roll – made the Italian something more than a driver. The “Doctor” has become an icon.
On the site that saw Red getting on his first podium in 1996, he announced that 2021 would be his 26th and final season in motorcycle Grand Prix. But the VR46 name will remain a key presence in the paddock, with a first-class team next season, and the man himself will forever remain what very few can claim: an icon of sport and motorcycling.
For this quarter century of history and memories, the only thing left to say is: GRAZIE VALE!
