Valentino Rossi Retires, Says Goodbye To MotoGP This Weekend

Valentino Rossi (Instagram @ valeyellow46)

JAKARTA - Nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi will be on the MotoGP grid for the last time. The world sports icon will end his career this weekend.

The charismatic Italian rider, now 42 years old, will retire from the world's most prestigious motorcycle racing scene, but has already secured his place as one of the greatest athletes in the sport's history after a 30-year career.

This weekend's Valencia Grand Prix will be Rossi's last MotoGP race.

"Even though this will be my last race in MotoGP I feel normal and I think that's okay," Rossi said, quoted by Antara from the official SRT website.

Emotional thursday in Valencia

Oggi eravamo in buona compagnia pic.twitter.com/NNVDF9vMUc

— Valentino Rossi (@ValeYellow46) November 11, 2021

"Maybe the days after this weekend will feel different this year... I hope I will have the opportunity to say 'ciao' to my fans in a kind way and thank you for your support."

Rossi claimed his first world title in 1997, one year after making his 125cc debut, followed by a 250cc title in 1999.

After moving up to the premier class, Rossi was runner-up in his first season in 2000 before winning the last world title in the 500cc class format one year later with Honda.

He then added to his collection of MotoGP championship trophies in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, and 2009, the first two titles were won with Honda, while the rest with Yamaha.

The rider nicknamed The Doctor has bagged 115 Grand Prix victories including a record 89 victories in MotoGP, 235 podiums (199 in the premier class), which is also a record, as well as the longest career for a rider in the premier class.

At the age of four, Rossi is battling riders half his age and the Italian's fortunes have faded in recent years.

In 2021, he moved from the factory Yamaha team to join the SRT satellite team swapping seats with Fabio Quartararo. The French rider locked the world title this season at a track near Rossi's home, Misano, last month.

While Rossi last tasted the sweetness of the top podium when he appeared in Assen, the Netherlands in 2017, while his last pole position was in 2018 in Italy. The number 46 racer celebrated his final podium last year after finishing third at the Andalusian GP.

Portimao Circuit,Portugal

Sunday,MotoGp Race

📸 @FAlex79 @GambutiPhoto pic.twitter.com/vDe5J3aFU1

— Valentino Rossi (@ValeYellow46) November 8, 2021

The 2020 season saw Rossi finish 15th in the drivers' standings, a surprising result for a rider who has not finished outside the top ten since his debut in 1996. He will face his final race as 20th in the standings.