Valentino Rossi announces retirement: “I’ll stop at the end of the season”

“I decided to stop at the end of the season”. Valentino Rossi retires at the end of 2021. At 42, the ‘Doctor’ announces his farewell to the World Championship and the end of the rider’s career which began in 1996. “As I had anticipated, I would have made the decision about my future after the summer break . I decided to stop at the end of the season “, says Rossi in an extraordinary press conference convened at the Red Bull Ring, where the Styrian GP will be held on Sunday. “Unfortunately, this will be the last half of the season as a MotoGP rider. It is difficult, it is a very sad moment. It is difficult to think that next year I will not race on a motorcycle, I have been doing it for more or less 30 years: the my life will change next year. It was a great journey, I had a lot of fun. I’m 25-26 years in the World Championship, it was great “, he repeats.” I would have liked to race for another 20-25 years, but unfortunately it’s not possible … The unforgettable moments will always be with me, it has been very nice. I have always given my best to stay on top, it has been a long journey: some of my fans may have been born while I was already on the track. I had the support and the cheering of people from all over the world, something in some ways incomprehensible. Some moments were pure joy, but we must understand that in the end in every sport the results make the difference: I think this is the right way. my team and with my brother, but that’s okay I was not ready to retire. At the beginning of the championship I was willing to continue, but the results were below expectations: race after race, I began to reflect. Now I am at peace with myself, I think it is the right time even if I am not happy to leave. But if I ran another year it wouldn’t change much: I would like to run another 20 years “. There is still half of the season to go:” Now I’m just communicating my decision, it will become more difficult when the last race arrives … “. In the future, there will probably be 4 wheels: “I love racing with cars, I think I will be racing with cars from next year but there is still no decision taken. I feel like a rider and I will remain one all my life: I will change from bike to car and I will continue to be one, maybe not at the same level. “Rossi leaves after winning 9 world titles in 4 different classes: 125, 250, 500 and MotoGP. In the curriculum of the rider from Tavullia at the moment there are 423 races, 115 victories, 235 podium finishes, 65 pole positions and 96 fastest laps.