Valencia MotoGP: Valentino Rossi set for final race of his career

[weeksy]

https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/99157 ... his-career

Valentino Rossi will bring an end to his incredible 25-year career in Grand Prix racing at this weekend’s Valencia MotoGP.

Nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi is set for the final MotoGP race of his career this weekend.

Rossi, who finished 13th - one place behind his brother Luca Marini in Portimao, secured his third consecutive points finish, albeit none were higher than the 12th place of Misano.

But despite 2021 being by far his worst season in the premier class - the only one without a podium thus far, Rossi will leave a mark on the sport like no other.

Whether it’s his appeal to the fans, incredible performances like Laguna Seca (2008), Catalunya (2009) or Silverstone (2015) just to name a few, or fierce rivalries with the likes of Sete Gibernau, Max Biaggi, Casey Stoner, Jorge Lorenzo and most notably Marc Marquez, Rossi has without doubt been the capitalist in making MotoGP as global as it is today.

Speaking ahead of what’s clearly ‘a special weekend’ in the 42 year-old’s career, Rossi said: "Valencia is always a special weekend and can be a difficult race in different aspects, especially as it is always the final round of the year – apart from last year when we ended in Portugal.

"However, it is somewhere that I have had some very good times. I’m hoping that we have some good weather there so that we can focus on ending the final race in the top-15 and take some more points.

"Although it will be my last race in MotoGP I feel normal and I think that’s okay, especially as this has been a very long season; maybe the days after the weekend will be different this year, but we will see.

"I hope that I will have the chance to say ‘ciao’ to my fans in a good way and to say thank you for the support."

From 2022 onwards Rossi will be embarking on a four-wheel career, however, it’s still to be announced what championship and with what manufacturer.

So what's the thoughts... Did he wait too long to retire and it's actually detracted from his previous wins/titles and he became and also-ran ? or will he still be remembered as one of, if not THE greatest ? Well, until he's passed by someone else (Marquez?) or should have have bailed earlier like Stoner and been remembered as the man who won everything.

[lostboy]

Yes he's one of the GOATs (if that's not a oxymoron), yes he waited too long to retire - a common disease among elite level sports people, especially those that are THAT talented, who just accept the aging process!

He's also the biggest personality that the sport has ever seen. Love him or hate him he absolutely transcended the sport in a way not seen since perhaps Barry Sheene in the UK - everyone knows who Rossi is even if they've never been on a motorbike.

[weeksy]

Yes he's one of the GOATs (if that's not a oxymoron), yes he waited too long to retire - a common disease among elite level sports people, especially those that are THAT talented, who just accept the aging process!

He's also the biggest personality that the sport has ever seen. Love him or hate him he absolutely transcended the sport in a way not seen since perhaps Barry Sheene in the UK - everyone knows who Rossi is even if they've never been on a motorbike.

I'd say in a Worldwide context he did it way more than Sheene ? But maybe not necessarily on the UK stage to a massive extent more.

I was out in a random pub at the weekend and one fella had a hoodie on with 15 or so Rossi helmets on it.... I don't ever see people in a Sheene t-shirt/hoodie, although that could be an age/passing of time thing.

But love him or loathe him for example, you do wonder if MMarquez will be seen in the same way 10, 15 or 20 years ago, as a hero of the sport, as a character and a champion. Or whether he'll be seen as the bloke who won everything and people forgot.

[Skub]

I was out in a random pub at the weekend and one fella had a hoodie on with 15 or so Rossi helmets on it.... I don't ever see people in a Sheene t-shirt/hoodie, although that could be an age/passing of time thing.

But love him or loathe him for example, you do wonder if MMarquez will be seen in the same way 10, 15 or 20 years ago, as a hero of the sport, as a character and a champion. Or whether he'll be seen as the bloke who won everything and people forgot.

I'd say those who recall Sheene racing may not be of an age where they wear a hoodie decorated with graphics of any sort.

Having said that,Rossi's tally of results have certainly surpassed Sheene's,but the worldwide recognition may be a closer run thing. I don't remember any other bike racer since Sheene being used in advertising on mainstream TV. Folk of a certain age still remember the Brut ads he and Henry Cooper did.I've never seen a Rossi ad for anything on ITV.

Populist characters such as Rossi and Sheene only come along once in a blue moon,so I don't think Marquez will be remembered by non biking people any more than Mick Doohan. All racing gods in their day,but the great unwashed are generally oblivious.

In 2000 when Kenny Roberts Jr was world champ,his next door neighbour had no idea what KR-JR did for his day job. Almost all of bike racers are invisible to non fans.

[Yorick]

I'll be glad when Rossi is gone. I totally respect his talent.
But I get pissed off with all the adoration and hero worship frenzies.


Maybe it's just me

[KungFooBob]

I flippin loves Rossi.

I wonder if they're retire his racing number?

[Skub]

I flippin loves Rossi.

I wonder if they're retire his racing number?

They'll have to fight Tommy Bridewell for it.

[the_priest]

One of GOAT's with an incredible career spanning many engine classes. Untouchable in that regard. He hung on to the end and perhaps should have left last year, but at least he is leaving a seat free for up and coming riders. He has raised the profile of the sport to new heights and has managed to get into the eyeline of non biking fans. Says a lot for his popularity. I think MM is brilliant, but lacks the persona Rossi has, he is simply too nice! Rossi had the love/hate/adore/loathe attraction and his vocal fans made him bigger than others. Perhaps they will shift their adoration to new riders, but time will tell.

[KungFooBob]

I think he's the reason why MotoGP took over from World Superbike as the UK favourite international bike racing series in the early 00's (that and Foggy retiring).

[lostboy]

Yes he's one of the GOATs (if that's not a oxymoron), yes he waited too long to retire - a common disease among elite level sports people, especially those that are THAT talented, who just accept the aging process!

He's also the biggest personality that the sport has ever seen. Love him or hate him he absolutely transcended the sport in a way not seen since perhaps Barry Sheene in the UK - everyone knows who Rossi is even if they've never been on a motorbike.

I'd say in a Worldwide context he did it way more than Sheene ? But maybe not necessarily on the UK stage to a massive extent more.

Exactly my point.

[MrLongbeard]

I think he's the reason why MotoGP took over from World Superbike as the UK favourite international bike racing series in the early 00's (that and Foggy retiring).

I'd sooner WSBK than MGP, at least until there's a brit or decent underdog to get behind.

[lostboy]

I think he's the reason why MotoGP took over from World Superbike as the UK favourite international bike racing series in the early 00's (that and Foggy retiring).

I'd sooner WSBK than MGP, at least until there's a brit or decent underdog to get behind.

Nah, that's like watching non League football instead of PL. (Hand grenade in pond!)

[MrLongbeard]

Nah, that's like watching non League football instead of PL. (Hand grenade in pond!)

I'd sooner darts or bowls or competitive knitting than football

[G.P]

Love the typo on crashnet: "Rossi has without doubt been the capitalist in making MotoGP as global as it is today".

Well I know he's made a fortune but I think racing was the motivation

When he did his warm down lap after the British MotoGP, he stopped in front of each of the stands to wave goodbye to the fans. There was a row women in front of us who all burst into tears and were sobbing for ages after he's gone. They weren't the Barry Manilow fan types either.

[Bigyin]

For me he was the first bike racer to "Brand Market" himself and started it very early on in his career. He started it back home getting a few friends to help out and the whole VR46 enterprise was born. Its now a multi million dollar business that will continue to make money through the marketing and the new VR46 team in MotoGP

If you look back no others really did it before and nowadays many are trying to copy it. Barry Sheene followed the F1 approach back in the day to market himself and became a household name in the UK during his career and now most will know who he was. Fogarty made a good effort at it with his "Foggy" branded stuff and the eyes logo and got some TV appearances after the racing career was over.

[Yorick]

I'm pleased they've got Stoner commentating. I really did admire him when he was at the top.
And being an Ozzie, he tells it like it is

[KungFooBob]

It's a nice touch that they've brought all Vale's championship winning bikes along to display at his final race.

[G.P]

It's a proper shitty morning in Valencia

[Lutin]

I think that what got Valentino Rossi so widely noticed was his showmanship. Non one had got up to the antics that he and his mates got up to after winning races and championships.

And then there was the showmanship on track as well. His habit of harrying the "leader" throughout the race before blasting past on the last corner to take the victory. And who can forget the win at Philip Island (?) where he got a 10 second penalty for passing under a yellow flag, so just got on with the job and gained more than 10 seconds on everyone else to get the win?

Marquez is undoubtedly a very talented rider, and just clearing off and leaving the rest of the field in his wake is impressive - but it's not showmanship and does rather pale when it occurs time after time.

[weeksy]

It's a proper shitty morning in Valencia

It's not a heck of a lot nicer over this way...

Luckily though, i don't need to ride a fast motorbike