MotoGP Valencia J3 Debriefing Valentino Rossi (Yamaha/10): “The first thing I regret is that it’s over! ", etc. (Entire)

This Sunday, November 14, 2021, Valentino Rossi answered questions from journalists from the Ricardo Tormo Circuit in Cheste (Valencia), at the end of the Valencian Community Grand Prix.

We went to listen (via teleconferencing software) to the words of the Italian driver with a dizzying track record who was competing here in his 432nd and final Grand Prix.

As usual, we report here the words of Valentino Rossi without the slightest formatting.

Valentino Rossi : " It was really a special weekend and I didn't expect it to be like that. I was a little worried about this last weekend of my career because you always think about this moment for a long time, and you don't know how you will feel, if you will be able to stay focused on the race, if you will be very sad and all that. , but it was great! It's been a great weekend since Thursday: I received a lot of surprises, like with the championship bikes and also with my Academy riders who used my helmets. It was very moving ! I also received great support and respect from everyone in the paddock and from all the MotoGP riders: I want to thank them because it is very important. It's not that easy and I think it's not that normal. It was also a great weekend yesterday because I drove well, and today during the race I was able to get into the top 10. So this means that I end my long career in the top 10 drivers in the world, and it is very important for me. This has a lot of meaning. I will be able to use this result for a long time by saying that I finished in the top 10 in my last race (laughs). I feel very good too because after the race we made a big mess and we had fun as if we had won the championship. This is something I will never forget! »

What was the most moving this weekend?

« The helmets (of the VR46 riders) and the bikes (of his 9 titles) were the two things I liked best, as well as the hugs with all the MotoGP riders at the press conference and after the race. They were all there and it was fantastic! But the best things were the helmets, the classics of my Academy riders, because it was a surprise for me and I was really happy and moved yesterday when they showed them to me. It was a brilliant idea! »

No tears?

« No tears (laughs). »

It was your best race of the year. Was it due to a particular motivation or to progress in motorcycling?

“Above all, we worked well with my team and from yesterday morning the bike had improved a lot compared to Friday. I started feeling better from FP3. Its very important. Anyway, we also improved from Saturday to Sunday, and yesterday Pecco helped me stay in the top 10. I went straight to Q2 and started in the top 10, and you can really do another race. But also, today I felt the motivation and concentration as if I had to play the championship, because it was the last race and it was very important: You will never forget it! And it wasn't easy! It wasn't easy because from Monday I had a lot of pressure and a lot of things to do, but for me the most important thing was to try to be strong during the race because I was still a driver. So I have great emotion today because I drove very well, I didn't make the slightest mistake and I gave my all from start to finish. So it’s a combination of all that. »

Who do you think could be the next superstar in MotoGP?

« I am a big supporter of all our drivers. Next year we will have four riders in MotoGP, Franco and Pecco with factory Yamahas and Ducatis, and Luca and Bez in our team. I hope it will be one of these boys, and I think that Pecco and Franco will also be able to fight for the championship next year. I hope that among these boys will be the new superstar of MotoGP. »

Did you think this weekend would go like this?

« In the last race we improved the bike a lot and we worked well with Davide, Matteo and the whole team. Honestly, they gave me fantastic support because the season was long and not easy. It was a crucial season for me, to decide if I continued, but the results didn't come. When you say "OK, I'll stop", it's very easy to give up, but after Portugal we spoke together and I said "Fuck, we have to give the maximum to Valencia because it's the last race.” I wanted to give my best because this circuit is the worst circuit for me, and I didn't want to come last. But it was more positive than we expected, and I think finishing in the top 10 today is the best race of my season. I had a lot of fun, it was very important to get a good result today. »

How would you describe your career in three words?

« Results… Fun, fun, fun… Above all fun, and very competitive. »

When you look back on these 26 years in Grand Prix, is there anything you regret?

« The first thing I regret is that it's over! I considered this weekend as the last weekend of the season and not the last weekend of my career, so I think it will be more difficult in the future, in the next weeks, the next months, and especially in March when they start again and I won't be there.
What else ? I don't know... Of course, I would have liked to win the 10th championship, but I can't regret anything about my results and my nine titles. I think if I had put the efforts of the last 10 years into my first years, I could have won even more. But I think it's normal: When you're younger, you're more carefree and that's normal. This is something you only learn with experience. But apart from that I'm very happy and today was a great final. »

A word about Ronaldo?

« Ronaldo is my idol. Except for motor sports, he is the best sportsman in my opinion. He gave me a lot of emotions when I was at San Siro to follow him, in Milan when there were the duels with Milan. I think Ronaldo gave me the same feelings that I gave to my best fans. So with Ronaldo I understand better what it's like to be on the other side, and today it was very moving. »