Valentino Rossi Tribute

MotoGP racing giant Valentino Rossi has retired from the sport at the age of 42 ending a 25-year career.

In the 22 years, the Italian won 89 races in 372 starts as well as bringing home 7 world championships throughout his glamorous career.

His final race came on Sunday in Valencia where he finished tenth but received a well-deserved standing ovation from the Spanish crowd on his final lap of honor.

Many riders reacted to what was a very emotional day for the sport.

Rossi’s former Yamaha teammate Maverick Vinales between 2017 and 2020 said it was a tough day to accept.

The 26-year-old said: “Honestly when I started to watch MotoGP, it was the Valentino ear.

“So, I grew up seeing him as an idol.”

Valentino started his career at Nastro Azzurro Honda before moving to the Repsol Honda team in 2002.

He spent the majority of his career on the Yamaha factory racing team where he had two length spells, the first between 2004 and 2010, before he made a surprise move back in 2013 for a four-year second spell.

His six-year spell between 2004 and 2010 was also his most successful run of his career winning 4 World Championships.

2021 saw him return to Yamaha but this time their Pertonas team for what turned out to be his final 18 starts.

Yamaha’s team principle Razlan Razali spoke on the club’s website after Sunday’s race.

He said: “We are truly honored that he has ended his career with us, and It will go down in the history books and that the last team he rode for was Pertonas Yamaha SRT.”