Rossi has made it on to the podium 235 times since making his debut in 1996. His final podium came in 2020, a third place in Jerez. Since his last title win, he finished runner-up in the championship to Marc Marquez in 2014 and 2016, and Jorge Lorenzo in 2015. The 2000s were no doubt the Rossi glory years but this past decade has seen the rise of other superstars - most notably Spaniard Marc Marquez, winner of six titles between 2013 and 2019. Rossi, whose Grand Prix career has spanned 25 years, is the only rider in history to win World Championships in 125cc, 250cc, 500cc and MotoGP. Valentino Rossi watch collection has some of the best and most popular watches from popular watchmakers such as Rolex and Jaeger-LeCoultre

Even Hollywood A-listers can't resist his charms. Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise and Daniel Day-Lewis are huge fans, as is seven-time Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton. But with Rossi's longevity and his epic battles on tarmac, he has inspired the next generation of motorbiking superstars, none more so than 2021 MotoGP champion Fabio Quartararo. Valentino was and is my idol," said the Frenchman. "When I was six I saw one of his races and he was overtaking on the last corner in Jerez in 2005, and that was the moment I wanted to be there, fighting with MotoGP riders. I am sure that a lot of fans will be as pleased as we are that Rossi is starting a new career on four wheels and that he is doing it in GT, with Team WRT and Audi,” Team WRT boss Vincent Vosse said of the Rossi announcement. I am delighted to welcome Valentino Rossi to the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS grid for 2022,” Ratel stated.We all know what a great motorbike champion and sports figure Vale is, but most of all, he is a true racer and a very professional and competitive sportsman, eager to be as successful as possible in the new challenge he has decided to embrace. Everybody knows that I have always been a great car racing fan and that I have always been interested in racing on four wheels once my MotoGP career would come to an end. Now I am completely available to devote myself to a car racing programme at a high level and with the right professional approach. We had a lot of championships together and we were rivals. We were the same nationality and that makes the rivalry very true," Biaggi told BBC Sport.

Rossi won the last of his nine titles in 2009, but has remained one of MotoGP's most prominent riders and has long been regarded one of the world's most iconic sportspeople.In 26 years, Rossi has become a global phenomenon, transcending the sport itself and, with it, amassing cult-like status with fans around the world. He will probably not dwell on his final season in MotoGP with the Petronas Yamaha satellite team. He experienced his worst start ever to the season, his best finish eighth at the Red Bull Ring in Austria. A 10th title has eluded him, leaving him feeling "a little bit sad", but there is plenty to keep Rossi busy during his retirement. But based on his comments at a recent media conference, it looks like Rossi could be turning his attention to four wheels. He is the only rider to have started 400 or more races in the sport's history, and has 89 victories in the premier class - no-one in the history of grand prix racing has ever come close to that.

I think there is a lot to take away from the great leader that he is. It's beautiful to see he has achieved everything he wanted." Rossi's rivals - the greatest battles of a generation Round one of the Endurance season begins on April 1-3 at Imola while the Sprint campaign commences at Brands Hatch on April 30/May 1.Only the best of the best can say that they have gone head-to-head with Rossi and for those who have, it has sparked some of the biggest rivalries in the sport's history.