“I started from the idea that today I would be very sad, almost desperate, so it was a bit of a surprise to be so happy and to have enjoyed it so much. It’s different from winning a World Championship or a race, which is more and more exciting. But today I had fun and we celebrated a lot, so they will be moments that I will always remember “.
You could really tell a lot of things about Valentino Rossi’s last race in MotoGP, but these few words from the “Doctor” have probably summed up in an excellent way what was a real party. Because not only did the player from Pesaro enjoy the embrace of his fans, but he was also competitive throughout the weekend and took away the satisfaction of finishing with a tenth place. A result that is far from obvious in today’s MotoGP.
“During the race I very few times thought it was the last. I’m happy because it was a great psychological test to be able to think about the race and get to the front. The last few laps the bike was going quite well, because when the petrol drops I can ride well and to enter the corners stronger, “said Rossi after a long series of well-deserved celebrations, which also saw the riders pay tribute to him immediately after the checkered flag.
“I really enjoyed myself and my only thought was not to be fooled by Morbidelli, who was attacked me the whole race. So I can tell him that as long as I was there, I beat him in the last race too (laughs). Franco he is one of the strongest riders in MotoGP, so it was a great satisfaction. After the checkered flag it was nice to have all the riders there for me, it was really exciting. Then in the garage I wanted to mess around, like if I had won a race or a World Championship: they were all happy and that was the feeling I was missing “, he added.
When asked how he managed to stay focused in the midst of all the events he attended this weekend, he said: “Today was my last race in MotoGP and the thing that gives me the most pleasure is doing. the pilot, so I wanted to do it until the end. This allowed me to maintain the right momentum and concentration. in the last ten. The last race in the end you will never forget and it was probably my best this season. “
As mentioned, there were many surprises prepared for him: Dorna made him find the nine bikes with which he was world champion in the paddock, while the guys from his Academy all raced with a replica of his iconic helmets. He doesn’t seem to have big doubts about his favorite.
“Helmets and motorcycles were my favorites, but also the embrace of all the MotoGP riders, both at the conference on Thursday and after the race. If I have to choose one, however, I would say helmets, because it was a wonderful surprise. Yesterday it was very emotional when they showed them to me, I really think my boys had a great idea. “
Among other things, today he did not want to miss even his football idol: “Ronaldo arrived before the race. He is my idol, for me he is the strongest sportsman outside of motorsport. I was always excited to see him in San Siro when he was playing for Inter and I think he risks giving me something like what I pass on to my fans. Having him here today was therefore very exciting. “
Inevitably, at the end of a beautiful 26-year journey, one cannot help but ask if there is also something he would have liked to do differently.
“It’s hard to say. I would do the 2006 Valencia weekend again, because maybe if I had stayed more focused I wouldn’t have crashed. In 2015 I honestly did everything I had to and it wasn’t my fault that I lost, so it does even more. badly and that is certainly the biggest regret. Also because in 2006 it could have been there. I came from many World Championships in a row, so it was normal to lose at some point, because that’s how it is in sport. The 2005 title, on the other hand, would have been fantastic, because I would have reached 10 and it would have extended my life as a world champion by six years. Then having finished it like this was really bad. For the rest, it was all fantastic “.
With his departure from the scene, MotoGP loses what has been its beacon for over twenty years. Rossi’s hope is that his heir could be Italian: “I’m a big fan of the guys in our Academy. Next year we will have four in MotoGP: Bagnaia on the factory Ducati, Morbidelli on the factory Yamaha and then my brother and Bezzecchi in the our team. I think Pecco and Franco can fight for the title next year, but I also hope that among these guys there can be the new MotoGP superstar. “
Looking to the future, car races are waiting for him, but above all paternity, since in a few months his girlfriend Francesca will give birth to a baby girl: “On the one hand, I’m happy to have more time for me, but also to continue to be a pilot with cars because it’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. I hope to have fun and like it like with motorcycles. Then I’ll become a dad and I’ll be able to tell you how I’ll feel. “
#Rossi #goodbye #thought #sad #enjoyed