Valentino Rossi retires after a glittering MotoGP career

Valentino Rossi has announced his retirement from Grand Prix motorcycle racing, effective at the end of the 2021 MotoGP season.

The Italian legend announced his decision in a press conference, saying “unfortunately, this will be my last half season as a MotoGP rider.”

Rossi will leave the sport as one of the greatest motorcycle racers of all time, having notched up nine world titles, 115 wins and 235 podiums across the 125cc, 250cc, 500cc, and MotoGP classes.

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Despite all his success, Rossi has struggled in the past couple of seasons. He was dropped from the factory Yamaha squad at the end of 2020 to the satellite Petronas Yamaha team and has struggled to crack the top ten in 2021.

With the Italian set to enter his own team into the MotoGP class from 2022 onwards, there was speculation that Rossi himself could fill the second seat alongside his half-brother Luca Marini. Ultimately though, the Doctor decided the time was right to hang up the leathers.

“I said I would take a decision for next year after the summer break, and I decided to stop at the end of the season,” said Rossi in his press conference. “And it's difficult, it's a very sad moment because it's difficult to say it and know that next year I will not race with a motorcycle.

“Next year, my life will change. But it was great, I've enjoyed it very much, it's been a long, long journey and it was really, really fun. It's 25, 26 years in the World Championship, so it was great.”

Born in Urbino, Italy, Rossi initially took an interest in karting, but eventually followed in the footsteps of his father, Graziano Rossi, and took up motorcycle racing. He made his 125cc world championship debut in 1996 and won the title in 1997. He then joined the 250cc class and won that title in 1999.

Switching from Aprilia to Honda, Rossi made his premier class debut in 2000. He finished second that year and then won the title in 2001 in what would be the last year of the 500cc world championship.

Rossi would win the next four premier class titles (under the MotoGP banner) with Honda and Yamaha, and also won a pair of titles in 2008 and 2009. He finished in the top three of the premier class on seven other occasions.

The legendary rider was given the nickname ‘The Doctor’ early in his premier class career. It is thought to be a sign of respect in Italy, with the term being given to people of importance.

It is anyone’s guess as to what Rossi does next, but it is almost a certainty that he will stay involved in motorcycle racing through his training academy and his VR46 Racing team. The Italian also has a passion for four-wheel racing and could pursue that going forward.

Millions of motorcycling fans around the globe will surely miss seeing him on track, but it is clear that Rossi is content with calling time on his career. And what a career it was.