Valentino Rossi has a clear idea of what he will miss most as a “mere” team owner but no longer a rider in the MotoGP scene
When the World Motorcycle Championship riders line up on March 6 to open the 2022 season with the Qatar Grand Prix at Losail, one will not be on the grid: Valentino Rossi.
The nine-time world champion has ended his two-wheel career after 26 years. From now on, Rossi will concentrate on his duties as team owner of the VR46 racing team, which is now also involved in the MotoGP class. In addition, the 42-year-old Italian will ride in one or two car races in the future.
This weekend Rossi, together with Luca Marini and Alessio “Uccio” Salucci, was supposed to contest the 12 Hours of Abu Dhabi in the VR46 Ferrari entered by Kessel Racing. However, the quarantine imposed on him after contact with a person who tested positive for the coronavirus put a spanner in the works of Rossi’s first race in the 2022 racing year. When he will actually ride in his first car race after the end of his active MotoGP career is currently still open.
One thing, however, Rossi can already imagine quite precisely, namely what he will miss most as a MotoGP rider who is no longer active. Specifically, there are three things that come to his mind first. “First, it will be riding a MotoGP bike. Because riding a MotoGP bike on the track is just a great feeling,” Rossi said. ”
“Secondly, it will be working with the team, my team, from Thursdays onwards. Trying to get all the details right to get stronger and stronger. That includes working with the top engineers and chief mechanics, data analysis and everything that goes with it,” said the veteran motorbike racer.
“And,” Rossi continued, “last but not least, I will miss the feeling on Sunday morning. Two hours before the start of the race you don’t usually feel very comfortable. It’s a feeling of anxiety in a way. You just know that at 2pm the race is going to start. ”
“I think these things will be hard to replace,” Rossi says, concluding, “I’m just going to miss the life of an athlete a lot. Getting up every morning and training for one goal, which is to try and win. That’s what I love so much.”
And that’s exactly why Rossi hasn’t hung up his helmet completely after 26 years, but “only” referring to the World Motorcycle Championship.
