05-08-2021 às 16:33
Já era algo esperado, mas... 
Fonte: MCN
Citar:Valentino Rossi announces his MotoGP retirement
Nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi has announced that he will retire from MotoGP at the end of the 2021 season.
Rossi confirmed the news in a special press conference held ahead of the Grand Prix of Styria on Thursday afternoon (August 5). Despite rumours of Rossi potentially racing for his own VR46 Ducati team next season, retirement had been expected for several weeks after a disappointing start to the 2021 season.
After nine races Rossi sits 19th overall with just 17 points on the board. His best result of the year so far is 10th at Mugello, whilst he's crashed out of two races. This follows similarly tough 2020 campaign which resulted in an overall position of 15th after also missing races through Covid-19.
"Rossi said in this afternoon's press conference, which included a special celebratory video package of his career."
By the end of his final campaign Rossi will have completed an astonishing 26 seasons. During that time Rossi has secured the 125cc and 250cc titles, a single 500cc crown and six MotoGP titles.
As things stand, Rossi is second on the all-time list of race winners with 115 victories, with his last victory coming at Assen in 2017. Only Giacomo Agostini (122) has more race wins. Rossi has 235 podiums, a feat unmatched by any other racer, 65 poles and has chalked up 96 fastest race laps.
The Italian was victorious on Aprilia machinery in the lower classes, before standing on the top step in MotoGP with Honda and Yamaha. Rossi also rode for Ducati between 2011 and 2012, finishing on the podium three times in what ultimately turned out to be two largely uncompetitive, frustrating years.
Rossi became the only rider to win consecutive races with different manufacturers in 2004 following his shock decision to leave Honda for Yamaha. He won the 2003 finale at Valencia for Repsol Honda, before winning the 2004 season opener at Welkom in South Africa onboard the factory R1.
Such is the longevity of Rossi's career, he has been involved in some of the most fierce rivalries in MotoGP history. From Sete Gibernau and Max Biaggi, to Jorge Lorenzo, Casey Stoner and, more recently, Marc Marquez, Rossi has taken them all to the very limit - both on and off the track.
Despite being unable to add an 10th world title to his name, Rossi still finished inside the top five overall between 2013 and 2018. This played a huge part in Rossi opting to continue racing into his 40s; he was still competitive, he was beating other Yamaha riders, and, most importantly, he was enjoying it.
His career hasn't had that same spark in the last couple of years and, at the age of 42, Rossi has struggled to keep up with the new young guns of the sport. Rossi is going faster than he ever has before on a MotoGP bike, it's just that the overall pace has increased. Grip has been the main bug bare, with Rossi struggling to adapt to the latest-spec Michelin rear tyres.
Whether he's able to add another podium or victory to his CV remains to be seen, but Rossi's influence and importance to MotoGP cannot be underestimated. During his 26-year career every race has become a home event for Rossi, with grandstands filled with his bright yellow and blue merchandise.
Rossi was able to break into the mainstream media and therefore brought MotoGP into the spotlight as well. Most people who attended races and watched on TV in the '00s and early '10s were doing so to watch Rossi race. Even now, fans still flock to his hometown of Tavullia throughout the year.
The paddock will be a strange place without Rossi, however, depending on how much he wants to be involved, he'll still be around every now and then to support his own MotoGP team - Aramco Racing Team VR46 - and brother Luca Marini.
Whatever happens next, Rossi's legacy will continue within MotoGP through his team and the VR46 Academy. Premier class riders Franco Morbidelli, Francesco Bagnaia and Marini are all academy members, whilst fellow member Marco Bezzecchi has been linked with a move to the top class.
![[Imagem: Valentino-Rossi-Retire.jpg]](https://mcn-images.bauersecure.com/PageFiles/690766/822x548/Valentino-Rossi-Retire.jpg)
Fonte: MCN
Deixa lá o moço.