THE GRID NEWS

THE PRESS ROOM GRID NEWS

VALENTINO ROSSI RETIRES

AFTER 25 YEARS OF ELECTRIFYING GRAND PRIX RACING, VALENTINO ROSSI RETIRES AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE 2021 SEASON.

At a press release before the start of the Grand Prix of Styria, the Nine-time MotoGP World Champion, Valentino Rossi announced that he would be hanging up his leathers at the end of the 2021 season. The Doctor retires, marking the end of an era.

It had long been rumored that the 42-year-old Valentino Rossi would retire at the end of this season, or possibly at the end of the 2022 season. Always a pleasure to watch, a real rider's favorite rider, Rossi has embodied the very essence and soul of MotoGP, both on and off of the grid.

Over his glorious career that spanned 25 years that began in 1996, Rossi has racked up 115 race wins that includes 89 victories in the premier class, 235 podium finishes, and 9 World Championships.

During the press conference, at which he announced his retirement, Valentino Rossi expressed, "I said I would take a decision for next year after the summer break, and I decided to stop at the end of the season," started the legendary Italian. "Unfortunately this will be my last half season as a MotoGP rider. And it's difficult, it's a very sad moment because it's difficult to say and know that next year I will not race with a motorcycle, I've done that for I think more or less 30 years!" He continued, "Next year, my life will change. But it was great, I've enjoyed it very much, it's been a long, long journey and it was really, really fun. It's 25, 26 years in the World Championship, so it was great. And I had a unforgettable moments with all my guys, the guys who work for me, so... I don't have a lot to say! Just this."

JAYSON URIBE HEADS TO WORLDSBK

OUTDO TPR TEAM PEDERCINI RACING SNATCHES UP MOTOAMERICA RIDER, JAYSON URIBE FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE 2021 WORLDSBK SEASON.

MotoAmerica Superbike racer Jayson Uribe is making the move to the WorldSBK paddock. The California-born racer has been recruited by the OUTDO TPR Team Pedercini Racing outfit to replace the recently vacated seat, alongside new Belgian teammate Loris Cresson.

The 22-year-old Uribe is in 13th place in the MotoAmerica Superbike standings for the current season. Thus far, he has earned a total of 33 points from ten races with a best finish of eighth place. ride with OUTDO TPR Team Pedercini at Most. I think it will be a lot of fun to be able to work with such a great and well-established team. I am also excited to reconnect with a few people who are already in the team that I know (the Gimbert family) from 2015, when I raced in the French Superbike series in Superstock. It will be good to get back on a Kawasaki. I don’t have so much experience on the green machine and it is a new track so for sure there will be a big learning curve, especially with the Pirelli tyres which I also don’t know but I am ready for the challenge. Everybody so far has been very supportive and to be finally in the World Superbike paddock, which is somewhere that I have wanted to be for a long time is great. I am doing everything I can to be ready, both physically and mentally and I can’t thank Lucio and OUTDO TPR Team Pedercini for the opportunity.” - Jayson Uribe.

MAVERICK VINALES MOVES TO APRILIA

MAVERICK VINALES WILL RACE WITH APRILIA RACING TEAM GRESINI BEGINNING IN 2021 AFTER SIGNING A ONE-YEAR CONTRACT.

There has been no hiding the fact the Maverick Vinales and Yamaha both have tired of each other. It was only in recent weeks that Vinales may or may not have attempted to purposefully malfunction his bike during the Styrian Grand Prix for which Yamaha swiftly suspended him and withdrew him from the Austrian Grand Prix.

It is also no secret that Aprilia Racing Team Gresini has expressed interest in the Spaniard earlier this year. "If Vinales is available, we're interested..." said Massimo Rivola during the Dutch GP in June 2021.

Well, it seems that everyone is getting their wishes fulfilled. Yamaha and Maverick Vinales are parting ways at the end of the 2021 season, if not sooner. Aprilia Racing Team Gresini has confirmed that they have signed Maverick for a one-year deal, with a renewal option, for the 2022 season and Maverick will reunite with his countryman, Aleix Esparargo at Aprilia.

“We are extremely happy to announce that we have signed Maverick Viñales, a very high-level rider and one of the purest talents in the premier category. Our project has now been enriched with the value that Maverick brings - a World Champion who has confirmed his talent as a top rider in MotoGP - at a time of great change, after bringing a completely revamped bike to the track and having consistently established ourselves in the group of protagonists, we are also facing a switch in status as a Factory Team now, in order to take Aprilia to success. We are honoured to be able to make all of our best skills available to Viñales along with our enthusiasm and our passion. I am confident that, like Aleix, he will embrace this extremely high-potential project. The arrival of Maverick in no way distances Lorenzo Savadori from the team, as he will remain an integral part of the Aprilia Racing family.” - Massimo Rivola, Aprilia Racing CEO.

SCOTT REDDING SIGNS TO BMW FOR 2022

THE 2019 BRITISH SUPERBIKE CHAMPION SCOTT REDDING ANNOUNCED HIS MOVE TO BMW FOR THE 2022 WORLDSBK SEASON.

Scott Redding is leaving the Aruba.it Racing Ducati WorldSBK team after two seasons after the 2021 season. Redding has signed with the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK team for the 2022 season where he will join Michael van der Mark.

During his tenure with the Ducati team, Scott Redding has racked up a total of eight race wins and twentytwo podiums after forty-two races in the superbike class (at the time of publishing). Before moving up to the WorldSBK stage, Redding captured the British SBK Championship in 2019. Not to mention his achievements in MotoGP where he finished on the podium box a total of two times over ninety race starts.

Redding isn't doing too shabby in his challenging sophomore year in the superbike class, after finishing the 2020 season second to Champion Jonathan Rea. The UK rider will focus his efforts on closing out the 2021 season with maximum effort and dedication to the Aruba.it Ducati team. Currently, Redding is sitting in third place with 216 championship points.

“I will always have a special place in my heart for the people at Ducati and their incredible fans. My only focus now is to continue giving my maximum for Ducati and my crew for the remainder of 2021. We are still fighting to win the title and I’m determined to end our relationship in positive fashion. But I feel it is the right time to make the move to BMW Motorrad and take on a new and exciting challenge. It’s clear how much they want me to be part of their project. They have demonstrated dedication and development since their come back to WorldSBK. I’m honoured that they have put their trust in me to help them achieve their goals and I am completely convinced that with their commitment, ambition and resources we can enjoy a very successful relationship together.” - Scott Redding.

ENGINE PROTECTIVE

COVERS Protection for latest sportbike models

2020 HRC TECH SPONSOR