MotoGP News
Date: 8/November/2012
Valentino Rossi will take part in the final race of his difficult Ducati career this weekend, just days after his most famous arch-rival announced his retirement.
Rossi is returning to Yamaha for 2013, while countryman Max Biaggi has called time on his own illustrious career, which yielded four 250GP titles and then two World Superbike crowns.
The battles between Rossi and Biaggi helped take motorcycle grand prix racing to new heights, as they clashed both on and off track during the final years of 500cc and opening seasons of MotoGP.
Rossi always got the better of Biaggi in terms of the championship, but the Roman went on to revive his career in WSBK, taking his second title less than a month ago, at the age of 41.
Rossi said: “It was a special relationship with Biaggi, because we were great, great rivals for a long period. Fighting for the championship in 500cc and then in MotoGP. It was very exciting to fight with him.
“The closest year was 2001 because it was the last season with the 500 two-strokes and everybody wanted to win that historic championship. The battle was very, very hard on the track and also off the track!
“Our relationship was not fantastic, but he was a great rival and I have good memories of the great battles together.”
While the charismatic Rossi was undoubtedly the fans’ favourite, one of the Biaggi supporters was a certain Jorge Lorenzo - who won the MotoGP title for a second time this year.
Lorenzo, now friends with Biaggi and present for his close WSBK title victory last month in France, revealed he had advised him to retire.
Lorenzo said: “I admire Biaggi a lot, because I think he is a special rider with a very pure technique. Maybe the smoothest I have ever seen.
“I am very happy for him to win the Championship, but also for him to retire. I had a chat with him and I think he made the right decision.
“He wasn’t sure whether to stay or not, but I told him: ‘Leave in a perfect physical conditions because you never know what can happen in this sport. You have a wonderful life. You have money, everything. 41 years old is the right time to stop.’ ”
Rossi and Lorenzo will be team-mates at Yamaha next year, with Rossi riding an M1 for the first time since 2010 during testing on Tuesday and Wednesday.
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