Valentino Rossi's number 46 leaves MotoGP

At Mugello, a page in the history of MotoGP will definitely turn around. The number 46 associated with the nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi will be officially removed from the MotoGP grid. Although he had asked that his number remain available, MotoGP decided otherwise. The ceremony will take place on Saturday a few minutes before the start of qualifying on the track. The opportunity to take one last walkabout for the Italian after leaving the discipline since the end of 2021.

Valentino Rossi, who left his mark on the premier motorcycle discipline with 115 victories and 235 podiums in all categories, has turned to GT since the start of the season. When he announced his retirement, Valentino Rossi was inducted into the MotoGP Legends Hall of Fame in Valencia, joining Mick Doohan and John Surtees. 

He is not the first rider to receive MotoGP honors, before him Kevin Schwantz and Loris Capirossi also saw their numbers 34 and 65 retired. Other drivers saw their numbers disappear. But in more tragic conditions after their premature deaths like the Italian Marco Simoncelli who lost his life at the Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang in 2011 or Daijiro Kato who succumbed to his injuries after the Japanese Grand Prix in 2003.

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