ROSSI ANNOUNCES MOTOGP RETIREMENT

Motorcycle racing legend Valentino Rossi has announced he will retire from MotoGP at the end of the season, ending a remarkable 26-year career in grand prix racing.

Since he made his debut in the 125cc World Championship in 1996 ‘The Doctor’ has recorded a total of nine world championships, 115 victories and stood on the podium no less than 235 times.

In the premier class (MotoGP) alone the Italian has scored a record 89 wins and 199 podiums just one shy of the magical 200 mark, which he will aim to achieve in his final nine MotoGP races.

The 42-year-old made the announcement on the eve of the Styrian Grand Prix weekend at the Red Bull Ring in Austria, and as promised, put to bed the mounting speculation about his future.

Rossi called the media for a special press conference where he made the announcement in front of the MotoGP press.

“I said I would take a decision for next year after the summer break, and I decided to stop at the end of the season,” Rossi said in front of the media.

“Unfortunately, this will be my last half season as a MotoGP rider. It’s difficult, it’s a very sad moment because it’s difficult to say and know that next year I will not race with a motorcycle, I’ve done that for I think more or less 30 years.”

The Petronas Yamaha rider reflected on his career and highlighted that he had made so many lifelong friends in the process.

“Next year, my life will change,” he said. “But it was great, I’ve enjoyed it very much, it’s been a long, long journey and it was really, really fun.

“It’s 26 years in the World Championship, so it was great. I had unforgettable moments with all my guys, the guys who work for me, so… I don’t have a lot to say! Just this.”

It was not clear whether Rossi would retire or continue to race in MotoGP, moving to his own VR46 team which will make its debut in the premier class next season.

However, it has been a challenging season for Rossi who sits 19th in the championship, after the first half of the season he has recorded one solitary top 10 finish for the satellite Petronas Yamaha team.

Valentino Rossi announces MotoGP retirement – Image: Motorsport Images

After eight consecutive seasons in the factory Yamaha team (15 in total) Rossi was demoted and replaced in the factory squad by Fabio Quartararo.

Rossi won the 125cc World Championship in 1997 and won the 250cc title in 1999.

He made the step up to the premier class in 2000, winning the final 500cc World Championship in 2001 before it was renamed MotoGP.

Rossi won three straight titles for Honda between 2001 and 2003 before leaving the team and winning the next two titles for rival Japanese motorbike manufacturer Yamaha.

Rossi would go on to win a further two titles for the brand in 2008 and 2009.

In more recent years Rossi finished as the runner-up for three straight seasons between 2014 and 2016. His most recent Grand Prix victory came at the Dutch TT in 2017.

Rossi will compete in his final MotoGP race at Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Spain on November 14.

VR46 Moto2 rider Marco Bezzecchi is expected to fill Rossi’s seat at Petronas Yamaha next year.

For more of the latest MotoGP news pick up the current issue of Auto Action. Also make sure you follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or our weekly email newsletter for all the latest updates between issues.