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Valentino had already raced in Portimão at the beginning of the season, after the double win at Losail, but his was an unfortunate race: 17th at the start, he slowly climbed up to settle in an 11th position, before being stopped by a fall during lap 14, with 11 laps to go.
“Racing here again is strange,” Valentino began to explain. “I was fast in the race, but unfortunately I fell. We’ll see now. The goal is to stay focused. It would be nice to have two decent races and give it my all. We start from Portimão and move forward, day by day. Staying focused on the races also helps me not think that, in ten days, I’ll no longer be a MotoGP rider.”
The sand flows through the hourglass of time as the sun sets on a very long career.
“Ten days compared to twenty-six years is nothing. I’m very excited, and I’d like to give it my all until the end of the season. It wasn’t bad at Misano, but I shouldn’t think too much about the Monday after Valencia. I’m still a MotoGP rider, and I prefer to think about having fun.”
Second thoughts? After such a long and glorious career, what else can you add?
“I never had a doubt. After making the choice, I don’t regret it, but we’ll have to see when the time comes… Today I’m quite calm.”
Four wheels knock on the door of the nine-time world champion, but the first appointment will be in the usual end-of-year spirit.
“That’s true. I tried the Ferrari at Misano because, in January, like for the past three years, Uccio, Luca and I will race in Abu Dhabi. The weather was bad, but the car drove well. Starting next year, I’ll be a car driver, but I’m only doing this race for fun.”
While we wait for the “real” ones… with which car and in which category? Rossi hasn’t decided yet.
“There are three leagues to choose from and, in one, there are sprint and endurance races. There’s the WEC and the European Le Mans Series, but I don’t know if I’m fast enough. I have some good offers, but it’s difficult to understand because, in motorcycles, I know all the bikes and teams like the back of my hand, while it’s like opening a new book in cars. It will then depend a lot on the car I choose. My teammates? They’ll be high-level drivers."
The MotoGP World Championship in Misano ended with Fabio Quartararo’s win, while Acosta’s and Foggia’s titles will be disputed in Portimão, and Gardner and Fernandez in the Moto2.
“Both championships are open. Acosta was impressive in the first part of the season, but then Denis recuperated. In the Moto2, two teammates are fighting each other. In the past few races, Fernandez was very, very fast. I wouldn’t bet on anyone. The leagues are very open, and I only follow them as a fan.”
“It’s true. I tried the Ferrari at Misano because, in January, like for the past three years, Uccio, Luca and I will race in Abu Dhabi. The weather was, bad but the car drove well. Starting next year, I’ll be a car driver, but I’m only doing this race for fun.”
While we wait for the “real” ones… with which car and in which category? Rossi hasn’t decided yet.
“There are three leagues to choose from and, in one, there are sprint and endurance races. There’s the WEC and the European Le Mans Series, but I don’t know if I’m fast enough. I have some good offers, but it’s difficult to understand because, in motorcycles, I know all the bikes and teams like the back of my hand, while it’s like opening a new book in cars. It will then depend a lot on the car I choose. My teammates? They’ll be high-level drivers.
The MotoGP World Championship in Misano ended with Fabio Quartararo’s win, but Acosta’s and Foggia’s titles will be disputed in Portimão, and Gardner and Fernandez in the Moto2.
“Both championships are open. Acosta was impressive in the first part of the season, but then Denis recuperated. In the Moto2, two teammates are fighting each other. In the past few races, Fernandez has been very, very fast. I wouldn’t play my bet on anyone. The leagues are very open, and I only follow them as a fan.”
