VALENTINO ROSSI ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT
MotoGP veteran Valentino Rossi has announced his retirement from the sport.
During a press conference in Austria on Thursday, the 42-year-old said that he's been thinking about this big decision for a while already.
“Like I said, I’ll make a decision during the summer break, and I decided to stop. So, unfortunately, this will be my last half-season as a MotoGP rider.”
The Italian went on to say that it’s a sad day as he realises that from next year he won’t be riding a motorbike competitively anymore.
“It’s difficult, it’s a very sad moment because it’s difficult to say and to know that next year I will not race with motorcycles. I’ve done this for more or less 30 years so next year my life will change after some point of view.”
Motorsport.com reports that Rossi made his grand prix debut in the 125cc class in 1996 at the same track in Austria where he announced his retirement. He became the champion in that division the following year before stepping up to the 250cc class in 1998 and winning the title in 1999.
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