Grazie Vale! Ciao Rossi

Emotional swansong

Rossi was mobbed at the end of the race, with his rivals, fans and crew all swarming around him before lifting him aloft of the track shortly after old friend and mentor — Brazilian football legend and 2002 FIFA World Cup-winner Ronaldo — waved the chequered flag.

“I was in shape today, I was inspired. I like that I’ve left in this way. At least I can say that at the last race I finished 10th,” Rossi dwelled further about the feelings.

Many surprises

“There’s been a lot of surprises, we’ve had fun. It was my style, we drank, broke a few things. I’m not that drunk yet!

“I’m happy to have had a good race, I finished among the 10 strongest riders in the world. Slowly now I’ll realise that I’m stopping, but for now, it just feels like the championship is over.

Mission accomplished

Rossi, a seven-time MotoGP champion and legend of the sport, took to the track for the final time on Sunday having confirmed the 2021 season would be his last back in August.

The 42-year-old qualified in 10th and ultimately finished in the same position, achieving the top-10 finish he had identified as his goal heading into the weekend.

Tributes to champ

Fittingly, VR46 academy product Bagnaia was victorious on the day. He and the other riders to have come through the academy who were involved in the various races over the weekend wore replicas of Rossi’s most iconic helmet designs, and he appreciated that tribute.

“Yesterday, when they surprised me with the helmets, it was tough but nice. Today, it was great to see them in action,” Rossi added.

As the curtains came down on the 2021 FIM MotoGP World Championship at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, and as we say ciao to Rossi, for the quarter of a century of history and memories, the only thing left to say is, Grazie Vale!