Valentino Rossi concluded a long career in MotoGP at the end of the 2021 season. However, the decision was made months before the end of that season, and at a time when he also found out… that he was going to be a father.
In an interview on the BSMT podcast, the current car racer spoke about the moment he decided to end his career: ‘It was after Assen that I really decided to stop. It was the summer break. I wanted to continue competing, but above all, I wanted to see if I could still be competitive. I couldn’t come here to finish in 12th. Assen was a very important race since it’s one of my favorite circuits. I won there ten times, so it has always been a bit like my home’.
He continued, stating: ‘Before leaving, I had dinner with Franci [Francesca Sofia Novello, girlfriend], and she said to me «I don’t feel like having coffee, maybe I’ll take a pregnancy test in the next few days». I agreed and went to Assen. Once there, I didn’t think about her test anymore’.
In the Dutch Grand Prix, Il Dottore had a high-speed crash, which left a lasting impact: ‘When I was in the gravel, I thought about quitting: “If you need a sign…”. Imagine the mood when you think about leaving something you’ve been doing for 25 years’.
Then came the conversation with his partner… and the revelation that he would soon become a father: ‘I got home and told Franci to go out to dinner. I was going to tell her, but she also had something to tell me. I found out I was going to be a father on the same day I may have decided to stop competing!’.