Valentino Rossi retiring at the end of the season

It was confirmed yesterday (5/8/21) Petronas Yamaha SRT rider and former seven-time MotoGP Champion Valentino Rossi has announced he will retire from motorcycle racing at the end of 2021 MotoGP season.

Valentino Rossi, 42, had been part of the Petronas Yamaha SRT set-up since the start of this season after winning 125cc title (Moto3) in 1997, 250cc (Moto2) title in 1999 with Aprilia, one 500cc title (MotoGP) two MotoGP titles in 2002 and 2003 with Honda. Rossi switch over to Yamaha in 2004 winning four more MotoGP titles in 2004, 2005, 2008 and 2009.

Rossi will be "concentrating his efforts" on his new MotoGP team, Team VR46, in 2022.

Rossi has won 89 wins and 199 podiums in the premier class, won seven MotoGP titles in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008 and 2009 with Honda and Yamaha.

Rossi currently sits nineteenth in the MotoGP standings with best finish of tenth place finish back at Mugello in May.

Petronas Yamaha SRT has yet to confirm who will replace Rossi in the team's 2022 rider line-up.

End of an era.