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Valentino Rossi: driver?
Team boss?
Both?
Photo: via www.imago-images.de / imago images / Cordon Press / Miguelez Sports
Valentino Rossi is heading into the MotoGP season 2022 with his own team. The racing team of the nine-time world champion will dare to make the leap into the premier class after engagements in Moto3 and Moto2. According to a report in the Italian sports daily »Gazzetta dello Sport«, the racing team, which will be named Aramco Racing Team VR46, is being financed by the state oil company of Saudi Arabia. The contract is therefore valid until 2026.
The 42-year-old Italian with the eternal start number 46 won seven of his nine titles in the motorcycle premier class, in which he clinched his first of 115 Grand Prix victories 21 years ago.
In total, the “Dottore”, who was last champion in 2009, has stood on the podium 176 times in his career in MotoGP.
His last victory so far was in 2017, his last World Cup title was twelve years ago.
Whether Rossi will drive himself in 2022 or give up his active career and become team boss is still open.
In the current season he is under contract with the Yamaha customer team Petronas, in three races he has a twelfth place as the best result.
sak / sid