Last home race for Valentino Rossi

With 429 GP starts, Valentino Rossi is undoubtedly the most experienced driver on the grid of the MotoGP. At the end of the year, the Italian, who has been in the world championship paddock since 1996, will bow out. If at each meeting since the announcement of his retirement in Austria fans and spectators have not failed to say goodbye to him, the next GP of Emilia-Romagna will have a very special meaning.

Tavullia, Rossi's hometown where he has installed all his infrastructures such as the famous ranch in which he and his academy of Italian drivers train in flat track, is located a little less than 15 km from the Misano circuit where he will compete his last GP in front of his audience. The events at Misano, like those at Mugello, are institutions for fans of the nine-time world champion. “The previous race at Misano was already a very emotional moment for me and, of course, this one will be a special race at home and I really hope that the Italian fans can enjoy it,” confided Rossi.

Faced with the growing attendance at this meeting and an apparent lull in the health crisis, the organizers of the Emilia-Romagna GP were able to increase the daily number of spectators. This therefore passes 25 to 000 spectators per day. It’s a safe bet that the stands will be packed.

Training at misanino with the @VRRidersAcademy
???? @camilss pic.twitter.com/EdVrUuc9uK

- Valentino Rossi (@ ValeYellow46) October 18, 2021

Since the GP of the Americas, the Yamaha rider has been training hard to best tackle the home stretch of the calendar in Misano, then in Portugal and Valencia. “It was good to spend these two weeks without racing, because we were very busy, especially with the trip to the United States, where the racing was very demanding,” adds Rossi. During this time, I trained hard at home to make sure that we can face the last three races of the season in the best possible physical condition. This second race in Misano will be more difficult than the first, because it may be cooler than a month ago. We have to work to give the best of ourselves, try to be a little faster than in the last races and refine the settings to be more competitive. »

Rossi has 15 MotoGP starts at Misano and has been on the podium six times, including three times on the top step. At the San Marino GP in September he finished 17^e, his worst result at the finish on this route.