For years, the question was simple: what would Valentino Rossi do after motorcycle racing? Today, the same question is beginning to surround a new generation of champions. And according to the Doctor himself, one of them already seems to have a very clear idea of his future. That rider is Francesco Bagnaia.
Two-time MotoGP world champion, a central figure in the VR46 Riders Academy and the most obvious sporting heir of Valentino RossiPecco is already looking well beyond his two-wheeled career. A prospect that may seem surprising given that he is only 29 years and remains one of the strongest players in the championship. However, Rossi leaves little room for doubt.
When asked which drivers might follow his example after their retirement from sport, the nine-time world champion immediately named his protégé. From my point of view, our pilots, Pecco in particularBez and Luca also talk about it a lot, so I guess they still want to come. »
The statement is revealing. Because since his withdrawal from MotoGP at the end of the 2021 season, Rossi He never really left the competition. He simply changed his playing field. The Italian gradually established himself in the extremely demanding world of GT racing, participating in the World Endurance Championship, the 24 Hours of Spa and several of the most prestigious events in international motorsport.
Valentino Rossi: “ They are all very motivated, so I think they will join me one day, within a few years. »
Unlike other former MotoGP champions who have made a few occasional appearances in motorsport, Rossi has built a true second chapter in his career. And clearly, several members of his academy are closely observing this trajectory. Luca has already run with me and did very well; he was very fast.. »
Before adding: “ They are all very motivated, so I think they will join me one day, within a few years. This remark takes on a particular dimension with regard to bagnaiaFor several seasons now, the Italian has displayed a growing passion for automobiles. Between private testing, GT events, and numerous discussions on the subject in the paddock, the idea of a career change to four wheels seems much more than a simple curiosity.
Rossiwho probably knows his drivers' ambitions better than anyone, certainly would not have cited Pecco firstly, if this perspective was not already seriously considered.
This evolution also reveals something deeper about modern MotoGP. For a long time, motorcycle racers lived almost exclusively in the world of motorcycling. Pathways to car racing existed, but they remained relatively rare. Today, the boundaries are much more blurred.
Drivers grow up in an environment where simulations, GT racing, endurance racing, and even... Formula 1 They occupy an important place in their sporting culture. The idea of a second career in motorsport now appears as a credible and natural option.
Valentino Rossi has become living proof of this. But while the Doctor is pleased to see his students considering this path, he refuses to extend his academy to the automotive world. Despite his close ties with several young talents in the world of motorsports, including the current leader of the Formula 1 World Championship Kimi AntonelliRossi believes that his true expertise remains in motorcycling.
« As for the idea of recruiting drivers to create a motor racing academy, honestly, noThe answer is clear. I mean, We specialize in motorcycles. And we've just hired four more young pilots, so we've started all over again with 15- to 16-year-old boys.. » Then comes perhaps the most important sentence.
« But in my opinion, we can have a greater impact on motorcycles than on cars. »
Behind this statement on Motorsport Italiahidden within is the entire philosophy of the VR46 AcademyFor over a decade, the project has never simply aimed to produce fast riders. The ambition has always been to build a true Italian school of motorcycle racing, capable of ensuring the next generation's success after the current era. Rossi.
Bagnaia, Bezzecchi, Marini, Morbidely or, Drive These are its most visible products. And even if some are already dreaming of a future in GT or endurance racing, Rossi seems to view this as the natural final step in the journey. First become a motorcycle champion. Only then think about cars.
According to the Doctor, Pecco Bagnaia He is already discreetly looking in that direction. The question, therefore, is perhaps no longer whether the two-time world champion will one day try his hand at motorsport, but rather when.
