“ Poi mi mancherà la domenica mattina , le due ore prima della gara ; momenti in cui non ti senti a tuo agio , sei teso ma anche emozionato dato che sai come sono le partenze . Di queste cose sentirò una grande mancanza ”.
Per gran parte della sua carriera nella classe regina Rossi è andato oltre lo sport . Il suo fascino e il suo carisma uniti alla sua grandissima capacità in pista sono state un mix che hanno attratto le folle di tutto il mondo e permesso alla MotoGP di raggiungere una grandissima popolarità nella sua Italia . I suoi grandissimi e particolari festeggiamenti lo hanno portato a diventare uno degli sportivi più famosi al mondo .
Oltre ai nove titoli mondiali , alle 115 vittorie , ai 199 podi in classe regina e alle 65 pole position , Rossi ha considerato anche un altro grandissimo aspetto legato ai risultati raggiunti durante i suoi anni in attività : “ Tante persone hanno seguito le moto perché correvo io . Questa è la cosa più importante che ho fatto in carriera . Ho fatto divertire tante persone la domenica pomeriggio per una o due ore quando non si pensa a niente se non a godersi le mie gare ”.
VALENTINO : A LIFE LESS ORDINARY PART . II
Seasons passed and Rossi remained capable of fighting for wins and podiums . But in 2021 , at 42 years of age , Rossi has been undergoing his worst season to date after switching from Yamaha ’ s factory team to the Petronas SRT Yamaha squad . He sat 19th in the World Championship after nine races , with a best result of a single tenth place before he made his decision over the summer break .
His intention at the beginning of 2021 was to continue racing motorcycles next year , he explained . But recent struggles were enough to convince him it was time to stop . “ I wanted to continue when I start the championship ,” he said . “ But I needed to understand if I was fast enough . During the season our results were less than what I expect . Race by race I started to think .”
From here , Rossi will switch disciplines and series . The nine-time World Champion had always harbored ambitions to race on four wheels ( and came close to joining Ferrari in Formula1 at the close of 2005 ). In 2022 he will take on the challenge of racing cars full time . “ I love to race with the cars , just a little less than the motorcycle ,” he said . “ I would like to race the cars . I feel that I am a rider or driver all lifelong . Just ( I will ) change motorcycles for cars , not at the same level , but I think I will race anyway .”
Rossi has fielded questions regarding his future all year long . But he insisted he was more comfortable with the idea of retiring now than any time in the past . “ Sincerely two years ago and last year I was not ready to stop with MotoGP™ . But now I ’ m OK . I ’ m quiet . I ’ m not happy for sure . Anyway , if I make another year , next year I ’ d be not happy in the same moment because I want to race for the next 20 !”
Since Saudi Arabia ’ s Prince Abdulaziz bin Abdullah bin Saud bin AbdulAziz Al Saud stated his desire for Rossi to join half-brother Luca Marini in the Saudi-backed VR46 Ducati MotoGP™ squad next year , speculation mounted on whether he would continue in the coluors of his own team .
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