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The 2021 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship arrived at Most in the Czech Republic for round six and the Tissot Czech Round to the sound of breaking news just over the border in Austria. On Thursday evening at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, nine-time World Champion and motorcycle racing icon Valentino Rossi announced his retirement from the sport at the end of this season, what will be his 26^th. Inspiring, captivating and dazzling millions of fans, Rossi also helped to generate a universal growth in the sport with his charisma, wild celebrations and never-give-in attitude, something that today’s WorldSBK stars paid tribute to as they bid a sporting farewell to a “proper legend” and to someone who “for every rider, is like a hero.”

The most successful WorldSBK rider of all-time and current Championship leader Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) said of his mixed emotions: “I’m really happy and really sad. I’m happy that he’s made peace with his decision, he seems really happy and he has a great future ahead of him and a lot of years to live. But I’m really sad because he is the icon of sport. You look at icons like Michael Jordan, and he is right up there. Not having him around on track, it’ll be sad not see that yellow helmet and bright leathers going down pitlane.”

Once the youngest ever Grand Prix race winner in the season Rossi took an eighth world title, Scott Redding (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) commented: “He has been an inspiration to the sport massively. I have respect for him racing in the sport for as long as he did and being competitive. He has done a lot for the motorsport industry over the years, but everyone has to hang their suit up at some point. I will always remember the character when he was younger, when he was wild and loose and that’s what I loved about racing, always doing the crazy celebrations and just a young kid going racing. When I raced against him, he was a lot older than me and at that age, doing that, that’s impressive.”

Alvaro Bautista (Team HRC) battled with Valentino on numerous occasions in the early 2010s and said: “I think all the words you say to Valentino are very short because he is a proper legend. I remember when I was a child, I saw him racing on the television. For me, he is more than a rider; he sold motorcycling to all the world, and I think, before him, motorcycling was for much of the world, not as important. After Valentino, everybody knows about motorcycle racing and starts to follow our sport. For me, he is a legend, and he did a lot for this world, and it was a pleasure to fight with him in many races.”

Whilst being a world icon, Rossi was a huge inspiration for young Italians, including Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK): “For me, Valentino is one of the best in the world. He did something crazy and something that is in the history books; he is the best rider ever. I’m also happy that he has stopped, because I think every year, it gets harder as some younger riders come in. I respect him because he is so good, and for sure we will remember him as the best rider ever.”

Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK) had the opportunity to visit Rossi’s VR46 Ranch and stated that he’s still got a good life ahead of him: “Valentino for every rider is like a hero. I remember Kenan Sofuoglu when he retired, and he wasn’t happy. However, for Valentino, I think it is good as he is 42 years old and he’s been racing for many, many years and I think now, this is good because this is life. I am happy for him.”

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