Bagnaia: Valencia MotoGP win “best way possible” to celebrate Rossi
Francesco Bagnaia says his victory in the Valencia Grand Prix sporting a retro Valentino Rossi helmet was the “best way possible” to celebrate the end of the MotoGP legend’s career.
The Ducati rider chased down Pramac rookie Jorge Martin in the first half of Sunday’s 27-lap finale at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit before making a decisive move on lap 15, which ultimately took Bagnaia to his fourth win of 2021.
Bagnaia – along with all VR46 Academy riders – ran a special Rossi tribute helmet, with the Ducati rider picking the livery the number 46 used to win his first title with Yamaha back in 2004.
Rossi ended his 432nd and final grand prix start in 10th and embraced Bagnaia after the chequered flag.
“The most important thing was to celebrate him in the best way possible, and with my favourite helmet he did in the past – and the most significant I think, because in 2004 he won with Yamaha, it was not easy and he won,” Bagnaia said.
“So, was for me was the nicest one for the story this helmet had.
“So, I chose this one and today was the best way possible to celebrate him in his last race by winning.
“And it was nice the hug we had on track after the chequered flag. We shared a lot of emotions there, so I’m very happy.”
Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
When asked by Autosport if he felt any added pressure to win on Rossi’s final MotoGP appearance, Bagnaia added: “Sincerely not because [it was] was a positive pressure.
“I was not fighting for anything because the championship positions were already decided.
“So, I was just doing my race and I was doing what I was doing all the weekend. I’m just so happy to have won with this helmet.”
Valentino Rossi’s best MotoGP helmet designs
Bagnaia ends his third season in the premier class as runner-up in the standings and just 26 points behind world champion Fabio Quartararo in the end, who was fifth in the Valencia GP.
His victory today and third for team-mate Jack Miller also secured the factory Ducati squad the 2021 teams’ championship to add to its manufacturers’ crown.
Related video
Why MotoGP's under-fire graduate has a point to prove
OPINION: MotoGP-bound Darryn Binder was already under the microscope as his jump from Moto3 to join RNF's new top-class team was announced. But his crash with title hopeful Dennis Foggia caused significant consternation among the ranks - with many current riders suggesting the top level should be harder to break into as a result
How Portugal exposed the biggest threat to Quartararo’s MotoGP title defence
Fabio Quartararo’s first DNF of his title-winning 2021 MotoGP season couldn’t have come at a better time. But the events of the Yamaha rider’s Algarve Grand Prix exposed the M1’s well-known major weakness, which could threaten his championship defence given the increasingly Ducati-heavy makeup of the grid heading into 2022
The financial implications fuelling junior bike racing's dangerous aggression
The pressure shouldered by young riders is at the root of the increased on-track aggression seen in lower categories of late, which motorcycling's governing bodies want to curb with new rules. But will stopping under-18s from racing in the world championship and capping grid sizes prevent the often desperate acts of youths pursuing their MotoGP dreams?
The three factors that crowned MotoGP’s newest champion at Misano
The prospect of Fabio Quartararo clinching the 2021 MotoGP world championship title at Misano appeared small after struggling to 15th in qualifying, while main rival Francesco Bagnaia took pole. Here's how the Yamaha rider turned it around, with help from an ill-fated Bagnaia tyre choice, to secure the crown with two races to spare
Marco Simoncelli: Remembering MotoGP's ultimate maverick 10 years on
Saturday 23 October marks the 10th anniversary of Marco Simoncelli's death. The one-time 250cc world champion and double MotoGP podium finisher was the ultimate maverick character with big hair, a big personality and an even bigger talent. Autosport pays tribute to a much-missed figure, a decade on
Why Quartararo has evolved more than Yamaha on his road to the MotoGP title
Fabio Quartararo has his first match point in the 2021 MotoGP title race this weekend at Misano. While the 2021 Yamaha is a much-improved bike to its inconsistent predecessor, its the rider himself who has shown the biggest evolution this season. Oriol Puigdemont delves into Quartararo's growth.
How KTM has wrestled control of young MotoGP talent from Honda
There once was a time when Honda controlled any young rider who emerged in motorcycling, but its market dominance has now swung to the side of MotoGP rival KTM and, to a lesser extent Ducati. Could this development have significant ramifications for the future?
Why Marc Marquez has to reinvent himself as a MotoGP rider
Marc Marquez's romp to victory at the Grand Prix of the Americas led many to believe the 'old' pre-injury Honda rider was close to coming back to his full powers. However, the 'old' Marquez will probably never exist again and instead he'll have to adapt to his new reality to return to title-winning ways in 2022