MotoGP: Valentino Rossi bids adieu to the sport as Bagnaia wins his second successive race to end the year on a high

(Motorsports) After 432 Grand Prix starts spanning 26 seasons, nine time World Champion brought the curtains down on his illustrious career. For Ducati, it was a historic 1-2-3 at the Valencia Grand Prix as Pecco Bagnaia claimed his fourth victory of the season, followed by Jorge Martin in second and Jack Miller in third. With the Championship confirmed, the day belonged to “the doctor” who qualified 10th and finished in the top 10 to cap off an underwhelming season but amazing career.

Poleman Jorge Martin nailed his start as he grabbed the lead into the first corner as Jack Miller and Joan Mir followed him closely. After lap 1 Miller took the lead at the first corner but Martin retaliated at turn 2 reclaiming the lead, while the battle upfront was intensifying Mir took advantage and overtook Miller at turn 4. Bagnaia and Rins were on the charge as they quickly chased down Miller who was suffering from a bit of tyre degradation at the initial stage while Bagnaia and Rins would get ahead of Mir on lap four to give chase on Martin. The top four soon opened up a gap from the rest of the field, Rins and Bagnaia were having a intense battle for the second but Rins race ended after a crash at turn 11 in lap no 6. Finally Bagnaia overtook Martin in lap number 15, it was usual business for Pecco as he started opening a gap although Martin did his best to stay with him. Eventually Bagnaia won the race half second ahead of Martin as Jack Miller settled for the last podium place.

Although Bagnaia won the race, the day belonged to Valentino Rossi as he got a massive tribute during the final laps. After the race, Rossi said in his final debrief as a MotoGP rider, “It was a really, really special weekend. I didn’t expect it to be like this. I was a bit worried about the last weekend of my career because you always think on this moment for a long time and you don’t know how you will feel, or if you are able to stay concentrated on the race, and also if you are sad. But it was a great weekend from Thursday. I received a lot of surprises, from the bikes of the [past] championships [I won], and also my riders using my helmets. It was very emotional. Also, great support and great respect from all the people in the paddock and all the MotoGP riders. Especially since it was a great weekend already from yesterday, I rode well and today in the race I was able to arrive in the top 10. So, it means I will close my long career with the top 10 riders in the world”.

“This is so important for me, it means a lot, and I can use this result for a long time because I can say in my last race I finished in the top 10.This is very important. Also, from Saturday to Sunday we improved, also Pecco [Bagnaia] helped me to stay in the top 10 [in FP3] and go directly to the Q2 and start in the top 10. You can do really another race [starting from the top 10]. Also, today I feel the motivation and the concentration like if I had to play for the championship because the last race is the last race, it’s very important. It’s not easy because already from Monday I have a lot of pressure, a lot of things to do. But for me the most important thing was to try to be competitive in the race because I’m still a rider, and it’s a great emotion. Today I rode very well, I never made any mistakes, and I gave my maximum from the beginning to the end.”

Also read: Valentino Rossi: The man, the myth and legend who will never be forgotten

Bagnaia said, “The most important thing was to celebrate him in the best way possible, and with my favourite helmet he did in the past – and the most significant I think, because in 2004 he won with Yamaha, it was not easy and he won. So, for me it was the nicest one for the story this helmet had. So, I chose this one and today was the best way possible to celebrate him in his last race by winning. And it was nice the hug we had on track after the chequered flag. We shared a lot of emotions there, so I’m very happy. Sincerely not because [it was] a positive pressure. I was not fighting for anything because the championship positions were already decided. So, I was just doing my race and I was doing what I was doing all weekend. I’m just so happy to have won with this helmet.”

MotoGP™ of Valencia Result (Top 10)