Rossi’s put up-MotoGP vehicle racing profession obtained’t be “merely for fun”

After 26 seasons in huge prix bike racing, MotoGP story Rossi will retire on the cease of the 2021 campaign – something he introduced last Thursday earlier than the Styrian Mountainous Prix.

The 9-time huge prix world champion has beforehand expressed a prefer to lag GT3 autos on the conclusion of his MotoGP profession, having taken podiums in Gulf 12 Hour events in a Ferrari 488 GT3 in 2019 and 2021.

Rossi has also made no secret of his ambitions to lag on the Le Mans 24 Hours within the prolonged tear.

When asked by Motorsport.com if he had any goals at this stage for his put up-MotoGP vehicle racing profession, Rossi stated: “Yes, I consistently worship to lag with autos, because I started with a plod-kart because Graziano [his father] modified into as soon as vexed of bike racing because he had rather about a accidents and he thought autos had been a chunk of more exact.

“So, I started with a plod-kart and after two or three years with a plod-kart, I attempted a mini bike, and after fortunately I raced with motorcycles because I don’t know if with autos I could perchance maybe perchance even acquire achieved the same outcomes, maybe no longer, so it modified into as soon as a correct different.

“Nonetheless anyway, it remained in my heart.

“All by this profession with motorcycles I consistently tried to red meat up my skill with autos, to lag consistently, to originate some kilometers to be ready at this 2nd.

“Nonetheless I don’t know, I don’t know my level, I point out it’s no longer the same as motorcycles, nevertheless you never lag merely for fun – whenever you furthermore mght can very properly be a genuine rider or driver, you lag to be strong and to purchase and to purchase a look for at and acquire a correct end result.

“Nonetheless sincerely within the point out time I don’t know which autos, I don’t know which races.

“I stated that I needed to lag on the 24 Hours of Le Mans and acquire rather about a vehicle racing around the sector so I judge that I’m able to revel in.”

Valentino Rossi, Kessel Racing Ferrari 488 GT3

Instruct by: Valentino Rossi

As properly because the Gulf 12 Hours events, Rossi also contested three World Rally Championship events in 2002, 2006, 2008, taking a most productive end result of 11th on Rally Original Zealand in 2006 in a Subaru Impreza WRC04.

Rossi famously tested Ferrari Formula 1 autos on a impartial steady different of times in the end of the 2000s and seriously regarded as making a swap in 2007 sooner than somehow final in MotoGP with Yamaha.

He last drove an F1 vehicle in 2019 on the Ricardo Tormo Circuit in Spain, taking the wheel of Lewis Hamilton’s 2017 title-worthwhile Mercedes as portion of a lag swap which also seen the latter journey MotoGP machinery for the first time aboard a Yamaha.