SPIELBERG BEI KNITTELFELD, Austria: Motorcycling legend and nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi confirmed Thursday he will retire at the end of the season after 26 years in the sport, describing his decision as “a very difficult, sad moment.”
The 42-year-old Italian signed a one-season deal with Yamaha-SRT for this campaign and it had been mooted he might ride for his own team next term.
However, he told a press conference ahead of this weekend’s Styrian Grand Prix that he will call it a day, 12 years on from his last MotoGP title.
“I have decided to stop at the end of the season. Unfortunately, this will be my last half season as a MotoGP rider,” said Rossi.
“It is difficult, it’s a very sad moment. It has been a long,…
