Nine-time𝓰 world champion Valentino Rossi is set for the final MotoGP race of his ꦍcareer this weekend. 

Rossi, who finished 13th - one place behind his brother Luca Marini in Portimao,♒ secured his third consecutive🅘 points finish, albeit none were higher than the 12th place of Misano. 

But despite 2021 being by far his worst season in the premier cla🌺ss - the only one without a podium thuℱs far, Rossi will leave a mark on the sport like no other.

Whether it’s his appeal to the fans, incredible performances like Laguna Seca (2008), Catalunya (2009) or Silverstone (2015) just to name a few, or fierce rivalries with the likes of Sete Gibernau, Max Biaggi, Casey Stoner, Jorge Lorenzo and most notably Marc Marquez, Rossi has w🌳ithout doubt been the capitalist in making MotoGP as global as it is today. 

Speaking ahead of what’s clearly ‘a special weekend’ in the 42 year-old’s career, Rossi said: "Valencia is always a special weekend and can be 🌜a difficult race in different aspects, especially as it is always the final round of the year – apart from last year when we ended in Portugal. 

"However, it is somewhere that I have had some very good times. I’m hopin♓g that we have some good weather there so that we can focus on ending the final race in the top-15 and take some more points.

"Although it will be my last race in MotoGP I feel normal ✱and I think that’s okay, especially as this has been a very long season; maybe the days after the weekend will be different this year, but we will see. 

"I hope that I will have the chance to say ‘ciao’ to my fans in a goo♋d way and to say thank you for the support."

From 2022 onwards Rossi will be embarking on a four-wheel career, however, it’s still to be aꦚnnounced what championship and with what manufacturer.