"The best thing in my career is to have become an icon".
Valentino Rossi from Valencia says so, where on Sunday with the final GP of the season he will race the last World Championship race of his life.
"In these years in which I have been on the track - he said - many people have taken an interest in motorcycling for me, and this sport has become more famous and followed. Among us riders we talk about the race, but having been a icon is what remains most beautiful of my career ".
"For the future I don't have a particular dream. Mine was to become the MotoGP world champion and I realized it - continues Rossi -. It would have been important to win the tenth title, it would have been like closing the circle, but that's how it went. I'm complaining, I've had a very long career, already fighting for the win is always great fun. "
The champion from Tavullia also admits that he made a bad decision to leave racing.
"The worst moment? It was when I decided to quit. Towards June it was tough, if I had been more competitive I would have continued but I had to quit. Now I feel pretty good, I try to stay focused on the race, give my best ".