Valentino Rossi receives a lifetime achievement award after the race at Misano. /
Analysis
Regardless of the results of the races, the Misano Circuit experienced a weekend in which the protagonist was the transalpine
Valentino Rossi started last in the MotoGP race of the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, although that seemed to matter. Officially the stands of the Misano Circuit received 35,000 spectators, the maximum allowed at the moment by Italian law, although in Tavullia, the town of residence of ‘The Doctor’, they commented on Thursday with a sly smile that there were going to be “a few plus”. Be that as it may, it would not be very risky to point out that 99 percent of those fans were on the circuit to see Rossi for the last time racing a MotoGP in Italy, to fire him, in a weekend that became that, in a continuous tribute to his figure.
On Saturday morning the nine-time world champion unveiled a new design for his helmet made with an image taken by his head photographer, Gigi Soldano, of his rostrum in Misano, full of yellow flags with the ’46’, in it It was intended to be a reverse tribute, from the pilot to the fans. «It was a good way to say goodbye to the fans. There was a fantastic atmosphere around the circuit, with a lot of fans, a sunny day … I’m happy. It was a good and very exciting day, “said Rossi with a smile, who finished tenth, largely thanks to the many incidents that occurred in the race, although we are going to repeat it, the result did not matter.
«Misano is my circuit, my grand prize. It is ten kilometers from my house and I am very lucky to have such a circuit close to home, because it is not normal. We’ve been racing here since 2007, so I haven’t raced here my whole career, but I’ve been able to win three times and especially the last one, in 2014, it was very special. People remember that a lot, all the good races, the good fights and those moments, just like today, ”said Rossi.
With all the pilots on the grid, the ‘speaker’ of the circuit was announcing each of the competitors. Low decibels with the majority, many beeps with Marc Márquez, applause with the Italians, and increased excitement when it was the turn of Rossi’s pupils: Franco Morbidelli, his brother Luca Marini, Pecco Bagnaia … Although nothing comparable to the moment of ‘Valeeeentinooo Roooossiiiiii ‘. The madness. «I have tried to enjoy all these moments. All my friends told me to enjoy, that Sunday would be a great day. I tried to enjoy myself, but also to have a good race and to do my best to get a good result. I am very happy, especially about this. It was a great emotion after crossing the finish line and I had a lot of fun, “he said.
‘Thank you Vale’
When the checkered flag fell, the stands paid tribute to their idol, taking off a yellow hat handed out by his fan club as he passed. Later, Rossi had to return, without a motorcycle, to the grandstand straight to finish with what was organized, including a loud fireworks display that thundered over the Misano Circuit while with the background noise the brand new world champion, Fabio Quartararo, the man who took his place on the official Yamaha team, gave interview after interview to explain his emotions on the biggest day of his sporting career.
A trance that Rossi has had to go through a few times, although this time his day was very different from any other he has lived since 1996, the year of his debut in the championship. His riders, those of his academy, and the members of his team, received him on Sunday with a special design on motorcycles, overalls and work clothes in their characteristic bright yellow, with the legend ‘Grazie Vale’ printed. “I did not know, I did not know it. Normally I don’t like surprises, but this has been a great surprise. I saw it this morning for the first time and I have to thank you. The yellow with the ‘Grazie Vale’ I liked a lot “, commented the protagonist.
Rossi will have two more seasons left before the end of his prodigious professional career. First in Portugal, and on the weekend of November 14 in Valencia, in which more than one hundred thousand spectators are expected, in an event that is already free of restrictions and which has chosen the image of the Italian for the design of its official poster .
‘The last race at home, party and tears’, had on its cover this Monday’ Il Corriere della Sera; ‘Goodbye and tears for Rossi’, it was read in the one of ‘Il Messaggero’; ‘Valentino’s goodbye show overshadows the World Cup’, read ‘La Repubblica’. The example of the relevance that in Italy was given to this historic Sunday, October 24, 2021.
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