MotoGP Styria, Viñales: “Rossi the god of motorcycling, we should thank him”

The press conference ahead of the Austrian race weekend opened with the news of Valentino Rossi’s retirement at the end of the season. The Yamaha factory riders, and test rider Cal Crutchlow who will replace Franco Morbidelli during the two Austrian rounds, shared some touching words as they spoke about the nine-time champion. 

Quartararo: “He pushed me to become a rider”

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First to speak was current championship leader Fabio Quartararo: “It’s hard to believe, because he was already two-time world champion when I was born. I’ve raced, and I continue to race against him, and to think he won’t be here next year is strange. He made me want to become a rider, he’s the legend of this sport, my idol, and I have no words”.

Vinales: “I’ve been very lucky to share the garage with him”

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Maverick Viñales continued on a similar theme: “He’s been a reference for me since I was small, my passion started when I watched him on TV. We’ve shared a garage and I’ve learned a lot from him, he was my idol. It’s sad but we have to thank him because he’s done so much for motorcycling. I was very lucky to be able to share a garage with him for so long, and I’ll always remember the times we would chat away from the track, he’s a great person and the god of motorcycling. We’d have liked to race with him forever but we should be very grateful to him”.

Crutchlow: "If you’re talking bikes, you’re talking Rossi”

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Lastly, test rider Cal Crutchlow who is standing in for Franco Morbidelli in Austria: “I’ve shared so many moments with him and to be back on a team with him now is historic. I was very young when he arrived in the world championship, we both then raced for Yamaha and we’ve battled in many races, it was a lot of fun. He’s a rider who, no matter where you are in the world, if you’re talking bikes, you’re talking Valentino. He’s one of those very rare sporting icons. I retired at 35 and couldn’t have done what he did, but he’s still fast, in amazing physical and mental shape, he never stops learning and he’s always there. It’s great to share this sport with him.”

Translated by Heather Watson

MotoGP, Fabio Quartararo not in for an easy time in Austria