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Italian great Valentino Rossi to retire from MotoGP

motorsport05 August 2021 15:34| © AFP
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Italian motorcycling icon Valentino Rossi called time on a career spanning 26 years on Thursday, with the seven-time MotoGP champion announcing he would retire at the end of 2021.

The swashbuckling rider who called himself "The Doctor" dominated the first decade of the 21st century winning seven world titles in MotoGP's elite category.

His sheer love for racing saw him carry on until 42 and he departs with 115 victories including a record 89 in MotoGP, 235 podiums including 199 in MotoGP, also a record, and the longest career of any rider in the sport's premier class.

Son of a motorbike racer Rossi started in 125cc with Aprilia in 1996. He won the title the following season, then moved up to 250cc where he won a title with Aprilia in 1999.

In the top flight Rossi was runner-up in his first season in 2000 before taking the final world title raced in the 500cc format a year later with Honda.

He added six more in the new MotoGP class in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008 and 2009, the first with Honda, the rest with Yamaha.

But he was eclipsed as MotoGP's biggest star by Spaniard Marc Marquez, who won the world titles in 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Rossi's last race victory dates back to 2017 at the Dutch Grand Prix, with his last pole position in 2018 and most recent podium the following year.

Last season he finished 15th in the standings, unprecedented for a rider who had not finished outside the top 10 at any level since his debut in 1996.

LAST CHANCE

The 2021 season was to have been his final chance to turn the tide.

Demoted to Yamaha-SRT, the satellite team of the Japanese manufacturer, he had to regain his flare or bow out.

After nine races, he is only 19th.

Talkative, funny, charming but also relentless in competition, "Vale" nevertheless developed long-running feuds with a few of his main rivals.

"He's a great guy but it is better to be in his camp," said French rider Johann Zarco.

At the start of his career, Rossi had strained relations with compatriot Max Biaggi, who he edged for the 2001 title.

Later there was the rivalry with Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo, who was his teammate at Yamaha, and who Rossi held off to take his last title in 2010.

Rossi did not win the class again, but finished second in three straight seasons. Lorenzo overtook Rossi in the final race in 2015.

Most of all, there was Marquez, 14 years his junior. In 2014 and 2016, the Spaniard finished clear of runner-up Rossi.

Relations with his Spanish Honda rival came to a head in 2018. After Rossi won the season opener, Marquez brought the Italian down during the second race, the Argentine Grand Prix.

The two riders did not reconcile until a year later.

FUTURE ASSURED

The Italian also knows how to make himself popular with his antics.

He has stopped his motorcycle on the edge of the track for a "pee break," attracted attention with a "Viagra" helmet and worn crazy wigs after his victories.

The number of fans at races wearing his favourite colour, bright yellow, or waving flags with his race number, 46, testifies to his ability to build his image.

At 42, and with a few more wrinkles, Rossi still looks like a pixie with the same smiling face and sparkling blue eyes.

The brown curls, which at one time gave way to a shaved head, have returned. His English is still embellished with Italian expressions.

Rossi has been building his legacy at his "VR46 Academy", based at his "Motor Ranch" at Tavullia, where he grew up, near the Misano circuit in eastern Italy. There, he has mentored Italian hopes Franco Morbidelli, Francesco Bagnaia and his half-brother Luca Marini.

He trains with his proteges and guides them from Moto3 to MotoGP.

His VR46 team will make its debut in MotoGP next year as a Ducati satellite.

Even if he is retiring as a rider Grand Prix motorcycle racing is not about to lose its most visible ambassador.

ROSSI'S LEGACY

- With 423 starts in all categories since 1996 and with 10 more on his schedule before the end of this season, Rossi is the sport's marathon man having competed for 26 seasons.

- Twenty years and 311 days separated his first win in the 125cc class in the Czech Republic in 1996 and his most recent victory in 2017 in the Netherlands in MotoGP.

- Sixteen years and 351 days separated his first win in the elite class of the sport in Great Britain in 2000 and his most recent in the Netherlands in 2017, another record.

- Rossi has 89 wins in 500cc/MotoGP, more than Giacomo Agostini (68) and Marc Marquez (57).

- He has the record for most podiums at 199 in the top category compared to 114 and 112 for Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa respectively.

- The 42-year-old has clocked up 76 fastest laps in 500cc/MotoGP against 69 for Agostini and 57 for Marquez.

- In all, the nine-time world champion has 235 podiums in the sport, including 115 victories, 67 second places and 53 third places, 65 pole positions and 96 best laps.

ROSSI FACTFILE

Name: Valentino Rossi

Nickname: The Doctor

Race number: 46

Date of birth: Feb. 16 1979

Place of birth: Urbino, Italy

Nationality: Italian

Height: 1.81m

Weight: 69kg

RESULTS IN 26 SEASONS IN GRAND PRIX MOTORCYCLE RACING:

World Championship titles: 9 (6 in MotoGP in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008 and 2009, 1 in 500cc in 2001, 1 in 250cc in 1999, 1 in 125cc in 1997)

423 Grands Prix contested (363 in MotoGP or 500cc, 30 in 250cc, 30 in 125cc)

235 podiums (199 in MotoGP or 500cc, 21 in 250cc, 15 in 125cc)

115 wins (89 in MotoGP or 500cc, 14 in 250cc, 12 in 125cc)

65 pole positions (55 in MotoGP or 500cc, 5 in 250cc, 5 in 125cc)

96 fastest race laps (76 in MotoGP or 500cc, 11 in 250cc, 9 in 125cc)

First GP: Malaysia 1996 (125cc)

First win: Czech Republic 1996 (125cc)

First premier class GP: South Africa 2000 (500cc)

First win in the premier class: Great Britain 2000 (500cc)

Last win: Netherlands 2017 (MotoGP)

SEASONS

2021: MotoGP (Yamaha-SRT), 17 points, 19th in rider standings, ongoing

2020: MotoGP (Yamaha), 1 podium, 66 points, 15th

2019: MotoGP (Yamaha), 2 podiums, 174 points, 7th

2018: MotoGP (Yamaha), 5 podiums, 1 pole, 198 points, 3rd

2017: MotoGP (Yamaha), 6 podiums including 1 win, 208 points, 5th

2016: MotoGP (Yamaha), 10 podiums including 2 wins, 3 poles, 249 points, 2nd

2015: MotoGP (Yamaha), 15 podiums including 4 wins, 1 pole, 325 points, 2nd

2014: MotoGP (Yamaha), 13 podiums including 2 wins, 1 pole, 295 points, 2nd

2013: MotoGP (Yamaha), 6 podiums including 1 win, 237 points, 4th

2012: MotoGP (Ducati), 2 podiums, 163 points, 6th

2011: MotoGP (Ducati), 1 podium, 139 points, 7th

2010: MotoGP (Yamaha), 10 podiums including 2 wins, 1 pole, 233 points, 3rd

2009: MotoGP (Yamaha), 13 podiums including 6 wins, 7 poles, 306 points, 1st

2008: MotoGP (Yamaha), 16 podiums including 9 wins, 2 poles, 373 points, 1st

2007: MotoGP (Yamaha), 8 podiums including 4 wins, 4 poles, 241 points, 3rd

2006: MotoGP (Yamaha), 10 podiums including 5 wins, 5 poles, 247 points, 2nd

2005: MotoGP (Yamaha), 16 podiums including 11 wins, 5 poles, 367 points, 1st

2004: MotoGP (Yamaha), 11 podiums including 9 wins, 5 poles, 304 points, 1st

2003: MotoGP (Honda), 16 podiums including 9 wins, 9 poles, 357 points, 1st

2002: MotoGP (Honda), 15 podiums including 11 wins, 7 poles, 355 points, 1st

2001: 500cc (Honda), 13 podiums including 11 wins, 4 poles, 325 points, 1st

2000: 500cc (Honda), 10 podiums including 2 wins, 209 points, 2nd

1999: 250cc (Aprilia), 12 podiums including 9 wins, 5 poles, 309 points, 1st

1998: 250cc(Aprilia), 9 podiums including 5 wins, 201 points, 2nd

1997: 125cc (Aprilia), 13 podiums including 11 wins, 4 poles, 321 points, 1st

1996: 125cc(Aprilia), 2 podiums including 1 win, 1 pole, 111 points, 9th

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