August 5th, 2021 will be a day for the motorsport history books. After over two decades in the top class of motorcycle racing, the icon that is Valentino Rossi has announced his retirement. Ahead of the back-to-back MotoGP races at the Red Bull Ring, it has been confirmed that the Motorcycle Grand Prix of Styria (August 6th to 8th) and Motorcycle Grand Prix of Austria (August 13th to 15th) will be the last chance fans have to see the living legend known as VR46, Vale or Il Dottore live in action in Austria!
Valentino Rossi, the undoubted darling of sports fans, has possibly spent more time in his life on two wheels than on two feet. He grew up in an Italy mad about motorsport and lives in Tavullia near the Misano racing circuit. His father Graziano won his first motorcycle Grand Prix in 1979 – the same year the legend was born in – also with the number 46, of course. Valentino therefore had petrol in his blood and a race number passed down to him. Amid all the records that 42-year-old Vale has smashed on his way to racing eternity, one thing remains staggering – the apparent ease with which Rossi has competed at the very top of his sport for over two decades! It is not only the ambition and dedication to racing that has made the success of VR46 so noteworthy, but also the temperament and Italian charm with which he has won over the fans and media since the very start – with numerous wonderful anecdotes emerging along the way.
Anyone who wants to see the Austrian MotoGP festival live and in person can still get tickets for the entire Styria GP race weekend up to Sunday. Day tickets for Friday, Saturday and Sunday are also available from the circuit’s ticket points from 8:30 CET every day. Tickets for the Austrian GP can still be secured by fans online here.
Information on travel can be found here