MotoGP: OFFICIAL: Valentino Rossi announces retirement

MotoGP Legend Valentino Rossi has announced he will retire at the end of the 2021 season.

Valentino Rossi has announced in a press conference that he will hang up his boots at the end of the 2021 season, opting to retire at the end of an illustrious career which has seen him be crowned World Champion a staggering nine times, doing so across many eras including the 125cc, 250cc, 500cc and MotoGP’s 990cc, 800cc and 1000cc years.

He battled with the very best from Alex Criville, Max Biaggi, Casey Stoner, Nicky Hayden Jorge Lorenzo, Marc Marquez, and countless more names. Honestly, we’d spend all day typing out names he’s raced against, he’s remained at the highest level for more than 20 years with an unbelievable win tally of 115 and 235 podiums to his name.

He has left his mark on the sport like no other rider, propelling it into stratospheric levels, saving it in the early 2000s when viewership was at an all-time low. MotoGP wouldn’t be what it is today without his influence and his adoring fans.

There is no doubt that his name will continue in the sport with his VR46 Team which is fielding two riders in MotoGP for 2022, just off the bike as a team member/owner as opposed to racing his heart out every week.

He is truly one of the greatest riders to ever grace the sport and his presence on the race track will be missed by millions across the globe.

Ciao.