It was a historic moment that Valentino Rossi experienced this Wednesday in Misano. Indeed, he completed these last MotoGP tests of his long and prolific career there. The prologue to the end of a driver's life, the finale of which will take place on the finish line of his final Grand Prix in Valencia. So, before the big book closes, a page, at least, has been turned with these last essays...
Valentino Rossi will never test again MotoGP. This part of his job is complete since there will be no more tests before the end of this season which will also be that of his career... An element of his environment for 26 years has just been removed. It's a past step which takes him to the locker room where he will put away his helmet and wetsuit. But it's not the one he will particularly regret.
The Doctor says this on the subject: “ it was my last test and it was an important moment, but testing is not the best part of our sport. You work very hard, physically and mentally. I prefer race weekends. My father Graziano was in the box, he wanted me to continue racing, but then he gave up and accepted my decision ". However, from these tests, he keeps certain strong memories: “ the first test in 250cc, the first test with the Honda 500 with Jeremy Burgess, the first test with the Honda 4-stroke at Suzuka, then the test for the 8 hours with Colin Edwards. I also remember with pleasure the first test with the Yamaha M1 in 2004, I think the best test of my career ».
So much for the memories. As for everyday life, these two extra days Misano gave a 19th time and this feeling: “ it was a very good test, especially yesterday. We didn't have any new parts to try and focused on tuning and details. Yesterday I improved my pace and the lap time was also quite good. Then we completed the planned work and nothing more ».
Valentino Rossi will leave a legacy on the track with its academicians bagnaia et Morbidely who are already getting a lot of attention. So, Morbidely is the reigning vice-world champion while bagnaia still playing the championship against fabio quartararo. On this duel, Vale is however realistic: “ I think it will be very difficult for Bagnaia to win the title, because Quartararo has a good advantage, 48 points. There are 4 races left and 48 points is a lot, so it's difficult, but he has to work like the last weekends where he won the last two races in Aragon and Misano, and see what Quartararo will do. We should keep the championship open until the end ».
Valentino Rossi test driver? “ Maybe I'll miss it, so we'll see«
He ends with his other student: “ Franco Morbidelli had an injury that normally takes 6 months to heal. Then with the fact that Viñales left Yamaha, he accelerated the times to get on the factory bike, but he is still not 100%. So to ride on these motorcycles you have to be at 100%, because physically they are very difficult ».
Valentino Rossi ends by returning to the tests. Will he be tempted to be a test pilot one day? “ I haven't broached the subject yet. we'll have to see how much I'll miss riding MotoGP when I no longer do it. It would be nice to ride it once in a while, but like I said, testing isn't the best time for a driver, but maybe I'll miss it, so we'll see ". It will be recalled that Yamaha offered him a role as ambassador but that his VR46 troops will also ride on Ducati in MotoGP in 2022.
