'' I could have run for another 3 or 4 years, but my back and knees hurt so I realized from there that I had grown old ''.
Valentino Rossi, visibly excited at the retirement ceremony of his number 46 from the MotoGP, which took place on the straight of the Mugello circuit a few minutes before the start of qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix, wanted, as he has become accustomed to by now, play down and joke about his end of career on two wheels.
'' Thanks for the wonderful support, the cheering and the emotions of all these years - continued the champion from Tavullia -.
We thank each other because the Mugello crowd has always been exciting.
Last night I was talking to my friends and I said that the first Sunday morning lap of Mugello in the warm up is one of the greatest emotions for a motorcycle rider and for this reason it was nice to have the ceremony here ''.
On the asphalt strip of the straight there were all his friends, mechanics, technicians and team managers of the other teams who wanted to celebrate him with a very long applause.
In front of everyone, instead, there was the entire Mooney VR46 team, his team that now represents his future in the world championship.
For the occasion, the management allowed its fan club to take a position on the central grandstand to attend the ceremony.
Valentino Rissi in his career has won 9 world titles, played 432 races,
