The Valencian Community Grand Prix will be the last for Valentino Rossi in MotoGP. At 42 years old, 26 seasons in the World Championship will be left behind, which have allowed him to win 115 races and become world champion nine times.
Since he announced his retirement last August 5 in Austria, the #46 has been getting used to the idea of what will come from now on. Rossi is already preparing his landing in car racing and his first fatherhood appears on the horizon in the coming months.
The Italian acknowledged that he does not know if he is prepared for what will come from this Sunday afternoon, when his last race as a motorcycle driver ends, but beforehand he affirms to take it easy.
“Valencia is always a special weekend and it can be a difficult race in different aspects, especially since it is always the last race of the year, except last year when we finished in Portugal. However, it is a place where I have spent a lot good times. I hope we have good weather so we can focus on finishing the last race in the top 15 and pick up some more points,” Rossi said in the Petronas Yamaha statement.
“Although it will be my last race in MotoGP, I feel normal and I think that’s fine, especially since this has been a very long season, maybe the days after the weekend will be different this year, but we’ll see. I hope to have the opportunity to say ‘ciao’ to my fans in a good way and thank them for the support,” he added.
Dovizioso: “I’m looking forward to starting the 2022 season”
The other rider of the Petronas Yamaha team, Andrea Dovizioso, approaches the Cheste race in a different way. The one from Forlì will try to continue adapting to the M1 and score points for the fourth consecutive race before getting on the 2022 prototype next week at the Jerez test.
“I hope that this weekend we can continue to adapt more to the bike, as in Portimão we made some small steps forward. It will be important to maintain this and keep working in the right direction in Valencia, to finish the season in the best possible way. My main goal it will be to gain more confidence with the bike, as this is also very important for me before the end of the season. Although I am enjoying riding again and gaining experience, I am happy to finish the season –hopefully with a few more points– because I’m looking forward to starting the 2022 one,” says Dovizioso.
(Click on this link to see the photos of the 2021 season of Petronas Yamaha in MotoGP)
