On Rossi’s Retirement

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At the end of the 2021 MotoGP season Valentino Rossi will retire. (Andrew Wheeler/AutoMotoPhoto.com/)

“When I started it was like another era—it was black and white on the television,” Valentino Rossi joked last summer. “I’ve won a lot, a lot of races, a lot, a lot of championships. Then you arrive at one point when it becomes more difficult because younger and stronger opponents arrive, so in that moment you have to decide. Do you prefer to stay at home and look at your trophies and be happy about this? Or do you prefer to continue to fight because you enjoy it? I think this is my case.”

The nine-time world champion started his 26th GP last March in that spirit. That number, 26, is also the age of Franco Morbidelli, his teammate and a member of the VR46 Academy that Rossi helped grow. Those 26 years, together with 115 career victories, 235 podiums, 9 world titles, and countless unforgettable battles with his rivals, make Rossi the greatest of all time. He’s the eternal Peter Pan for the MotoGP fans who packed the grandstands on circuits all over the world with yellow flags and the number 46.

Last Sunday in Austria Rossi announced his retirement.

Rossi said he would have raced 25 more years if he could have. (Andrew Wheeler/AutoMotoPhoto.com/)

“I’ve decided to stop at the end of the season… This will be the last season for me as a MotoGP rider,” Rossi said. “I have done this thing for more or less 30 years. It’s a very sad moment because I won’t race next year… Next year my life will change.

“It was great. I enjoy a lot, and it was really fun. I had unforgettable moments. I would have loved to continue for another 25 years, but it is not possible.”

Rossi pronounced these heavy words in his trademark style: with a smile on his face. This extraordinary openness with his emotions is something Rossi shares with other legends, Diego Maradona, Pele, Ayrton Senna, Muhammad Ali. To many MotoGP fans, he wasn’t just one of them; he was all of them rolled into one.

To many MotoGP fans, Rossi was bigger than the sport itself. (Andrew Wheeler/AutoMotoPhoto.com/)

For many years his name was even bigger than the sport itself. He transcended its frontiers; he was loved by millions of dads, mums, kids, and grannies as much as by petrolheads.

“I have incredible support from all the fans from across the world,” he said in his farewell. “I have to say thank-you to all the fans. The difference between me and all the other great riders is—seriously, I don’t know why—I was able to bring a lot of people close to motorcycle racing… Even in a remote village in Thailand, I found scooters with the number 46 on it. This makes me proud, together with the awareness that I entered millions of houses on Sunday to give them two hours of pure joy.”

Related: Ciao, Valentino

Rossi’s fans were the most committed and supportive, even when the results were not there. (Andrew Wheeler/AutoMotoPhoto.com/)

Speed, charisma, and fantasy: a creative cocktail that makes Rossi unique. “I was moved by the thousands of messages that I have received, from close friends to sportsmen to fans that were not even born when I started in 1996. The one that touched me most? Maybe Casey Stoner’s.”

Rossi’s pass on the Australian at the Corkscrew at Laguna Seca 2008 remains one of the all-time best moments in motorcycle racing.

Stoner tweeted: “You’ve been without a doubt one of my greatest rivals, my achievements have been all the more validated having raced against you. We’ve had some tough battles over the years, and I learnt a lot from you. I hope you enjoy the next chapter of your life, there is a lot left to enjoy.”

Rossi’s wild pass on Casey Stoner at Laguna Seca. (Andrew Wheeler/AutoMotoPhoto.com/)

“End of an era. On the track the 4 of us were just as fast, but in terms of charisma and transcendence @valeyellow46 is at the level of Jordan, Woods, Ali, or Senna. Enjoy this new chapter, legend!” tweeted Jorge Lorenzo, the subject of another unforgettable moment: Rossi’s pass on his younger teammate at Barcelona in 2009.

Even Max Biaggi, one of Rossi’s first and oldest rivals, chimed in. “We have never pretended to be friends, either on or off track, but we have animated one of the most beautiful rivalries in motorcycling. Maybe one day we will meet each other in front of a glass of red wine for some laughter. Deciding to stop is never easy, especially after 30 years of career, but you can now think of doing many things that you would never have been able to do before and it’s not so bad: good life Vale.”

Valentino Rossi doesn’t regret anything, not even the two fruitless years with Ducati.

“It was a great challenge: an Italian rider on an Italian bike. If we had won, it would have been legendary. I’m more sorry for not having achieved my 10th title. We went close twice, fighting at the last race, so I think I deserved it,” the Doctor said.

Rossi describes his time on the Ducati as “great challenge.” (Andrew Wheeler/AutoMotoPhoto.com/)

“I thought he would continue,” commented an obviously surprised Marc Márquez. “I’ve read the comments of those who say that it shouldn’t end like this, but the career of a sportsman must be judged for the whole period of time. It’s been 25 years, and what he has done for motorcycling is legendary. He did something that is the prerogative of a few riders: to win, to bring a lot of people to the track. It’s beautiful.”

Even Rossi’s rivals can’t deny the impact he has had on the sport. (Andrew Wheeler/AutoMotoPhoto.com/)

Márquez doesn’t agree that MotoGP will never be the same. “In the 100 meters [at this Olympics] there was no Usain Bolt, but I looked at them anyway and with the same intensity. It is true that Bolt had something different, but sooner or later someone always comes along who will become great too. There was Pele, then Maradona, Messi… It’s not that one is better than the other, but that each has its own era and moment. And Rossi’s moment was very, very long. But MotoGP will remain the same; those who love motorbikes will continue to follow and support them.”

“Valentino is the Michael Jordan of roadracing,” current MotoGP World Champion Joan Mir said.

“It’s difficult to believe that it is happening,” confessed MotoGP point leader Fabio Quartararo, who now occupies Rossi’s seat in the Yamaha factory team. “He was already a two-time world champion before I was born. It’s extraordinary that he is still racing with us this year… He was, for me, the reference and the reason why I decided to become a professional rider. I remember when I was a kid and I was queuing for hours in front of his motorhome to get an autograph. His career has been simply fantastic. He is a legend of our sport.”

Rossi’s antics gained him fans inside and outside of the sport. (Andrew Wheeler/AutoMotoPhoto.com/)

“We have to thank him, because he has reshaped our sport over the last 20 years. Even someone who doesn’t follow MotoGP knows Valentino Rossi. There are few stars that remain competitive for so many years,” stated Johann Zarco, currently second in the championship on a Ducati.

“I have learned so much from him,” Maverick Viñales said. “I am very grateful for the amazing moments we have shared on and off track.”

“It’s sad news. He is an idol for all of us. It will be very special to race with him in the last GPs,” Morbidelli said.

“I also grew up following Rossi’s successes,” Cal Crutchlow said. “He is the synonym of MotoGP in the world. What impresses me more is his determination and competitiveness. Even after my retirement, he continued to be fast and competitive. It is incredible how he made it to maintain such a level of mental and physical preparation to compete at the maximum for so many years. He is a source of inspiration for all of us.”

“What is extraordinary about Rossi is the love of his fans,” young KTM rider Miguel Oliveira said. “…It was easy for us to support him when he was winning, but what makes him extraordinary is that the fans kept on loving him even when results were not coming as during the two years with Ducati. The fans love him beyond his results, for what he represents on and off track. It has been an honor to share the track with him.”

Where and when will we see Rossi on the track again? (Andrew Wheeler/AutoMotoPhoto.com/)

And If Giacomo Agostini, with 122 GP wins and 15 world titles under his belt, found an heir in Rossi, who could be Rossi’s heir?

“Valentino has been my heir. He has been a legend: The results and the victories he achieved will remain even if in the last years he struggled. In our era, we were pioneers: We arrived at the track with the bike in the van. Today MotoGP is a show without frontiers. And now? I cried for three days when I announced my retirement, Valentino did it with a smile. His passion for motorcycles is crystal clear; he could connect with so many people. Now he won’t be able to continue doing what he loved most. It’s an empty space. but he will find something else.”

The most difficult to convince was Graziano Rossi.

“I made my decision alone but this is something I discussed with my family and my close friends. They all pushed me to continue to continue, especially Graziano. ‘We will have fans,’ he repeated.”

“I told Stefania only on Wednesday before the race. I used to have dinner with her and my girlfriend Francesca every Wednesday. I told her when I was already at the door. She had no time to reply, but we had discussed it with her many times.”

Rossi’s smile can be easily seen under his helmet. (Andrew Wheeler/AutoMotoPhoto.com/)

Time, ultimately, was his greatest rival. Rossi is now ready to close this chapter.

“I want to enjoy this second part of the season and see if I can get better results. I will miss getting up every morning to train, the butterflies in my stomach two hours before the Sunday race, working with my team. But I can race with cars and follow the riders of the VR46 Academy. It’s an incredible satisfaction to see them grow and win. It will continue to be the Italian team.”

“Just give me some months of holidays,” said Valentino Rossi, smiling. An eternal Peter Pan.

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