Valentino picks up his legendary 46 at Mugello

Opportunity or fate led to the two drivers who hated each other most during their racing career and shared a tribute to this Italian Grand Prix in Mugello. Yesterday, Friday, Max Biaggi was in turn to become a MotoGP legend, one of the 34 already decorated. On Sunday, he will have an honorary lap in his iconic Aprilia 250cc before the MotoGP race. And this Saturday, all prominences were captured between 12:20 pm and 12:30 pm. It was executed. Because I like him the most.

Already recognized as a MotoGP legend in Valencia on November 14, his 46 retirement, one of the most iconic numbers in the sport, on May 14 is 10 for Diego Maradona, Leomessi, or Pele. Officially done at the height of. , Cristiano Ronaldo 7, Michael Jordan 23, Tom Brady 12, Kobe Bryant 8 and 24, Magic Johnson 32 or Shaquille O’Neal 34 or LeBron James 23 and 6.

Casually wearing three sizes larger light T-shirts and jeans shorts and 46 Valentino Rossi black hats, MotoGP left the MotoGP team’s Mooney VR46 team’s box and from there to the finish line where the entire grid was. Waiting for him, FIM President Jorge Viegas and Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpereta gave him a Mini 46, and at the stand a large Jara smoke colored the valley of Tuscany with the circuit.

He stood on the floor and said, “I want to thank the masses of Mugello. The first lap of the warm-up at Mugello has always been one of the biggest emotions of the motorcycle. Thanks to this, it’s beautiful and we It’s a pity I couldn’t do it. I’ll race for another three or four years. “And I couldn’t miss the humorous comments. “My back hurts, my knees hurt, and then I noticed I was old.”

The entire MotoGP grid came out of the pits, posed with “bodyguards” and is now all gathered in the MotoGP team, chanting the football fan “OeeeoeeeValeeValee”.

Following Schwantz 34, Kato 74, Simoncelli 58, Capirossi 65 and Hayden 69, it will be the sixth number to retire in MotoGP.