Rossi To Retire From MotoGP At The End Of The Season

Calum Gill 15:49 05/08/2021

Seven-time world champion Valentino Rossi has announced his long-rumoured retirement from riding in MotoGP after 22 seasons of racing in the premier class. 

The Italian, 42, revealed his decision to stop racing after the season-ending Valencian Community Grand Prix at a special press conference today ahead of this weekend's Styrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull ring. “Like I said during the season, I would take my decision for next year and after the summer break, and I have decided to stop at the end of the season,” he said. “So unfortunately this will be my last half-season as a MotoGP rider. It’s difficult. It’s a very, very sad moment. It’s difficult to say and to know that next year I will not race a motorcycle. I’ve done this thing for let’s say 30 years. I’ve enjoyed it very much. 

“I had a very long career and fortunately I won a lot of races. I had some moments and some victories that are unforgettable and were pure joy - something where I laughed for one week and after 10 days I’d laugh again and say ‘why?’ and then ‘OK, for the race’. It’s a difficult decision. But you need to understand that at the end in all sports the results make the difference. At the end I think this is the right way. We have another half-season. I think it will be more difficult when we arrive at the last race. Now is just for saying my decision to everyone. But it’s OK. I can’t complain about my career.”

Rossi, who currently races for the Petronas Yamaha SRT, made his debut in the premier class in 2000, and he won the first of his seven world titles the following year. His first three title were claimed with Honda, before moving to Yamaha ahead of the 2004 season. He won a further four titles across a seven year period with Yamaha. In 2013, he returned to Yamaha following an unsuccessful winless two-year stint with Ducati. Rossi added a further 10 race victories but fell short of an elusive record-equalling eighth title. This year he stepped down from the factory Yamaha squad to the satellite Petronas Yamaha team, where he’s scored just one top 10 finish and sits 19th in the riders’ championship.

Rossi has consistently been MotoGP’s most popular rider of the last two decades, garnering legions of supporters at races and regularly requiring dedicated Rossi grandstands. The Italian has also launched his own VR46 MotoGP team and it will take over both of Avintia’s grid slots next season for its full-time debut, while Rossi’s VR46 Academy supports multiple riders on their path towards the premier class and has revitalised Italy’s future prospects in motorcycle racing. While there were some whispers that he could switch to ride for his own team next season, Rossi is likely to race in the World Endurance Championship whilst managing his own team.