46 is a sign, not just a number for me: Valentino Rossi

As
they
say,
there
is
only
one
number
46!
On
Saturday
(May
28)
at
the
Gran
Premio
d’Italia
Oakley,
MotoGP
Legend
Rossi
returned
to
the
iconic
Autodromo
Internazionale
del
Mugello
as
No.
46
was
officialy
retired
from
use
in
the
MotoGP
class.

On
the
grid
before
qualifying
began,
the
retirement
ceremony
saw
FIM
President
Jorge
Viegas
and
Dorna
(MotoGP
commercial
rights
holder)
CEO
Carmelo
Ezpeleta
present
the

Doctor
with
a
special
trophy
of
the
number
he
rode
to
unprecedented
levels
of
recognition,
creating
a
global
sporting
icon
in
the
process.

46
is
more
than
just
a
number:
Fluorescent
yellow
will
not
glow
again
as
MotoGP
honours
Valentino
Rossi

For
the
records,
the
43-year-old
won
nine
World
Championships
across
all
classes
—
115
wins
and
235
podiums
across
—
as
he
played
a
key
role
in
redefining
the
sport
for
millions
of
fans
across
the
world,
with
No.46
coming
to
signify
one
thing
and
one
thing
only:
Valentino
Rossi.

Retiring
at
the
end
of
the
2021
FIM
MotoGP
World
Championship
season,
the
Italian
is
now
joined
by
his
racing
number
as
a
spectator
of
the
world’s
fastest
motorcycle
racing
series.

Rossi’s
number
retired:
VR46
still
on
front
row
as
Di
Giannantonio
grabs
pole

“It’s
mix
feelings
—
on
one
side,
it’s
very
sad
that
I’ve
finished,
I’ve
stopped,
and
also
the
46
it
is
retired
from
MotoGP.
On
the
other,
it’s
a
great
feeling
because
it
was
a
long
story
and
an
unforgettable
career
full
of
great
moments,
so
I’m
very
proud
of
this,”
Rossi
said
in
his
hour
of
glory.

“It
was
good,
here
in
Mugello,
because
it’s
always
a
special
place,
it’s
always
the
home
of
the
Italian
GP,
our
home
GP,
and
it’s
also
good
because
I’ve
always
raced
with
the
46
from
the
first
year.
46
for
me
means
a
lot,
because
it
was
the
number
of
Graziano,
of
my
father,
when
he
finished
second
in
the
250cc
Championship.
I’m
very
happy
because
it’s
a
sign,
not
just
a
number,”
Rossi
added.

The
MotoGP
legend
also
spoke
about
the
Mugello
race
and
threw
some
light
on
the
emerging
riders
on
the
grid.

“Italy
is
always
in
the
top
in
MotoGP,
specially
at
this
moment
because
also
the
bikes,
Aprilia
and
Ducati
are
very
strong,
and
we’ve
a
lot
of
Italian
riders
—
we’ve
Enea
(Bastianini)
who
has
won
a
lot
of
races,
Pecco
(Bagnaia)
is
very
strong
and
also,
we’ve
a
lot
of
riders
from
our
academy,
.

“This
weekend
also
Luca
and
Bezz
are
fast,
we’ve
also
Morbidelli,
we’ve
also
young
Italian
riders
who’re
very
strong,
so
I
think
that
I
can
be
quiet
for
the
future.”

Italian
GP:
First
win
for
Bagnaia,
Quartararo
extends
championship
lead
with
2nd-place
finish,
Marquez
10th

Bagnaia
won
the
race
and
it
was
for
the
first
time
in
almost
two-and-a-half
decades
that
a
race
was
being
held
Mugello
without
Rossi
on
the
grid.

“For
sure
I
miss
it,
because
it
has
been
my
life
for
26
years,
to
follow
the
championship
around
the
world,
but
it’s
good.
I’m
happy,
I
don’t
miss
it
a
lot
because
it
was
also
very
long,
very
stressful,
so
now
I’m
a
bit
more
relaxed
and
I
think
that
it
was
the
right
time!”
concluded
Rossi.

Rossi
may
have
retired,
so
too
his
No.46,
but
his
legend
will
live
on.
The
MotoGP
and
his
legion
of
fans
will
miss
him
nonetheless.

For
the
quarter
of
a
century
of
history
and
memories,
the
only
thing
left
to
say
is,

Grazie
Vale!