Rossi's Decision To End His Career In MotoGP Triggers Various Reactions, Quartararo: Hard To Believe

Valentino Rossi (Instagram @ valeyellow46)

JAKARTA - Valentino Rossi's decision to end his career in MotoGP after the 2021 season has ended has sparked various reactions from his rivals, who also idolize him, in the MotoGP paddock.

French racer Fabio Quartararo, who grew up as a Rossi fan, could not believe the news that came that day during a press conference session ahead of the Styria Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring, Austria, as reported by Antara from the official MotoGP website.

"It's hard to believe, because he was already a two-time world champion before I was born. And now I'm still racing with him and imagining that next year he won't be racing with us again is sad," said the rider who is now the leader of the standings.

"He's the one who made me really want to be a MotoGP rider when I was a kid by seeing him, waiting for hours in the hospitality area to take pictures."

As a boy taking pictures with Rossi, Quartararo has now grown into one of the fiercest riders in MotoGP and this year Yamaha was even mandated to swap seats with Rossi in the factory team as the nine-time world champion ended his career with the satellite team Petronas Yamaha.

"For me he is a legend of the sport, he has built a great career and he is a legend, he is still my idol."

The 1996 championship season marked Rossi's debut in the world of Grand Prix motorcycle racing. Since then he has recorded 423 races in all categories. This number does not include the 10 races that will take place in the remainder of the 2021 MotoGP season.

Rossi is also listed as a racer who has competed in a marathon for 26 seasons.

Runner-up standings, Johann Zarco views Rossi as someone who played a major role in changing the face of motor racing in the last two decades.

"Thanks to Vale for what he has presented, he changed the division from motorcycles during 2000 to now," said the Pramac Racing team driver.

"And when you talk about motorcycles with someone who doesn't understand anything about it he can just say Valentino Rossi to you.

"We thought there would be a day when he said he would stop and that day came. It's amazing that he has lasted so long, I saw him on television and he became an idol and now I'm racing with him."

Meanwhile, defending champion Joan Mir admitted that he was very nervous watching Rossi's announcement that day.

"I'm honored to have had the opportunity to race with Vale for these three years, and maybe I was more nervous than him when he announced the news, it was a difficult moment because it seemed like that moment would never come for a rider.

"There are questions when a journalist asks if he feels like basketball player Michael Jordan, and of course he is the Michael Jordan of motorcycle racing.

"It will be difficult to repeat (achievement) Valentino Rossi in history, so we wish him the best and hopefully meet again next year in the paddock," concluded Mir.

Rossi, who is now 42 years old, has 89 wins in the 500cc/MotoGP class. This number is more than Giacomo Agostini (68) and Marc Marquez (57).

Rossi is also recorded as having the most podiums in the highest class with 199. This number beats Jorge Lorenzo with 114 podiums and Dani Pedrosa with 112 podiums.

Overall, Rossi has bagged nine titles in various classes with 235 podiums, including 115 wins, 67 times in second and 53 in third, as well as 65 pole positions and 96 fastest laps.

For Maverick Vinales, Rossi has been his reference since childhood.

"I started to have a passion for motorcycles especially when I started to see Valentino with his celebrations and the way he won races," said the former teammate of The Doctor.

"In the end, I grew, and I have the opportunity to be on the same team as him. And of course when internally sharing data, comments and whatever, I have the opportunity to learn this which is most important.

"Valentino is more than an icon and a legend, in the end he is my idol.

"It's sad, but at the same time we also have to thank him for making MotoGP grow so big and also being an inspiration for me," said Vinales.

Meanwhile, the Portuguese racer Miguel Oliveira saw Rossi has a charisma that other riders don't have.

"I think the turning point that made him a legend was that after so many titles in 2009-10 when he moved to Ducati before returning to Yamaha, people still love him even if he doesn't win and the race results are not good.

"Only then do we really see the greatness of a Valentino and the power of image and strong influence he has in the paddock.

"For me it's an honor to be able to race with him, of course we want to share more personal moments to get to know Vale better but for me it's enough to be on the track with him," said the KTM driver.

Then, British racer Cal Crutchlow admitted that he was impressed with Rossi's passion and motivation to keep racing at his age.

"I decided to retire at the age of 35, I can't continue for another seven years like he did. But his motivation to keep wanting to be faster is incredible," said Crutchlow, who is now a Yamaha test rider and will be Rossi's tandem for three races. next replaces Franco Morbidelli who is recuperating after surgery.

"As he said in today's interview, he can be faster than himself from the past on some tracks.

"To be able to do that is amazing, it shows physically why he is capable of doing that and also the mentality to come out and keep going."

This season marks the final chapter in Valentino Rossi's saga as a Grand Prix racer, but it won't take long for the public to see him in the paddock again as his team, VR46, enlivens the premier class using Ducati engines next year.

"It's a difficult decision but I think in the end in all sports, the results make the difference. In the end this is the best way," said Rossi.