I WHEELY WANTED A PERFECT TEN
Rossi reveals regrets over world title milestone ahead of final race
VALENTINO ROSSI has revealed he regrets not making it to 10 world titles across his 25-year racing career as he prepares to bow out of the sport at Valencia this weekend.
The Doctor, regarded as the most successful motorcycle racer ever, will call time after tomorrow’s race in Spain, instead concentrating on becoming a father and running his own team.
But as he lines up for his 432nd Grand Prix, the man who has won nine world championships says he doesn’t expect to end his glittering career on the rostrum.
“I fought a lot to try to win the 10th championship when I was able to race at a good level because my last championship was in 2009 – and 2009 is one life ago,” said the 42-year-old Italian.
“I always thought I would be very happy if I can win another championship, maybe in say 2015, to make my life longer as a world champion. I thought it was important and also No.10 is like a finish, a close to the circle.
“But I can’t complain, I have had a great career. My last podium at Jerez in 2020 was my 199th and I said then, ‘Maybe this is my last’.
“I wanted to try for 200 but it’s OK, I can’t complain because it has been a long, long career and a great pleasure.”
Rossi made his World Championship debut on an Aprilia 125cc in 1996, taking the title the following year before moving up to the 250cc class in 1998, and he won that championship in 1999.
He moved into the premier class in 2000 and in just his second season won the first of five championships in a row, the first two with Honda in 2001 and 2002 before moving to Yamaha where he took a further five titles between 2003 and 2009.
A high-profile move to Ducati in 2010 ended his dominance and he returned to Yamaha three years later but, despite picking up another 10 race wins, was unable to secure the elusive 10th title.
He added: “The most positive thing for me is that a lot of people started to follow MotoGP for my career from the beginning and the sport became bigger and more famous all around the world.
“It’s good to understand that during my career I became something different, something like an icon and this is a great, great pleasure.”