Spielberg bei Knittelfeld (Austria) (AFP)

Rossi, it's over: at 42, the nine-time Italian motorcycle speed world champion Valentino Rossi, absolute icon of his sport, will bid farewell to the World Cup at the end of 2021, after 26 seasons, as he announced on Thursday.

"Vale", "The Doctor", the nicknames are legion for the one who dominated the first decade of the 21st century, with seven titles in 500 cm3 and MotoGP between 2001 and 2009 with Honda then Yamaha.

His record is eloquent with 115 victories including 89 in MotoGP (a record), 235 podiums including 199 in MotoGP (also a record) and the longest career in the premier class of motorcycling sport.

Rossi won a title in a 500cc two-stroke in 2001, before these were replaced by 1000cc four-strokes.

He gleaned six more (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008 and 2009) with them, bringing to nine his total number of world crowns, with those acquired with Aprilia in 125cc in 1997 and in 250cc in 1999.

However, he then had to cede his pedestal to the Spaniard Marc Marquez, crowned in 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, and saw his star weaken over the past four years.

To regain his last victory, we have to go back to 2017. His last pole was taken in 2018 and his last podium in 2020. That year, he was only 15th among the drivers, he who did not had never finished the year outside the Top 10 since his debut in 1996!

- Last chance -

2021 was to be the season of the last chance: demoted to Yamaha-SRT, the satellite team of the Japanese brand, he had to regain his colors or retire at the end of the year.

After nine races, he is only 19th and the mass is said: Rossi will stop to try his hand at car racing ... but "not at the same level"!

Valentino Rossi, 2nd of the San Marino GP, September 11, 2016 in Misano GABRIEL BOUYS AFP / Archives

Talkative, funny, charming but also relentless with his opponents, "Vale" has not only made friends at the highest level.

His compatriot Max Biaggi first, with whom relations were more than strained at the start of his career, then the Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo, who was his teammate at Yamaha, and especially Marquez.

Although Rossi initially accepted the tributes of his rival Honda, 14 years his junior, relations grew strained as the Spaniard won the titles, until a clash at the Grand Prix d 'Argentina 2018.

The two pilots with oversized egos only agreed to reconcile a year later, lip service, not without the Italian refusing an outstretched first hand.

Because Rossi doesn't like being disrespected.

Another example: his accusations against Johann Zarco, whose motorcycle grazed him after an accident in August 2020.

"He's a great guy but it is better to be in his camp", then observed the French driver.

- Quirks -

But the Italian also knows how to make himself popular thanks to his antics: he stops his motorbike on the edge of the track for a "pee break", gets noticed with a "Viagra" helmet, wears crazy wigs after his victories. .

The number of bright yellow outfits and flags, his favorite color, adorned with his race number, 46, in the stands at each race are there to testify, as well as his qualities to monetize his image.

The Italian also had some setbacks with the tax authorities of his country, which ultimately forced him to pay millions of euros in back taxes, while the pilot had long pleaded for spending more time in England than in the peninsula.

Valentino Rossi announces that he will retire from sports at the end of the season, during a press conference on August 5, 2021 in Spielberg (Austria) ERWIN SCHERIAU APA / AFP

At 40 years old, Rossi - in a relationship and whose two dogs and the cat adorn the saddle - keeps the air of a pixie with the same smiling face and the same sparkling blue eyes, a few more wrinkles.

The crazy brown curls of the beginning of his career, which had at one time given way to a shaved head, have returned and his English remains "flowery" with Italian expressions.

Preparing his future after the competition, the "Doctor" has also become a mentor for the Italian hopes (Franco Morbidelli, Francesco Bagnaia, Luca Marini, his half-brother ...) which he welcomes within his "VR46 Academy" since 2013.

He trains with them in his "ranch" in Tavullia, near the Misano circuit, but above all accompanies them from Moto3 to MotoGP.

And his team, Team VR46, arrives in MotoGP next year on Ducati satellites.

From rider to team leader, the Motorcycle Speed ​​World Championship is not about to lose its best ambassador.

© 2021 AFP