For over two decades, Valentino Rossi was the undisputed icon of MotoGP, a rider who transcended the sport with his charisma, sheer talent, and competitive fire. But in 2020, “The Doctor” faced a series of setbacks that almost made him hang up his helmet for good. At 41, battling both a global pandemic and a competitive grid full of younger riders, Rossi experienced what was arguably the most challenging season of his illustrious career. In interviews since then, Rossi has opened up about the difficult moments of that year and how it nearly pushed him into early retirement.
The Pandemic That Changed Everything
The 2020 season was already poised to be a challenging one for Rossi. He had been racing at the top level for over 20 years, and questions about his longevity were beginning to swirl. But no one could have predicted the kind of upheaval that would take place with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The racing calendar was thrown into chaos, with cancellations, postponements, and an unprecedented number of back-to-back races crammed into the second half of the year.
In interviews, Rossi admitted that the uncertainty surrounding the season’s future took a toll on his mental health. For the first time in his career, he seriously contemplated retirement. The sudden pause to the racing calendar gave him time to reflect, and Rossi found himself questioning whether he still had the motivation and physical stamina to compete at the highest level. It was an existential moment for the nine-time world champion.
“I was at home, like everyone else, and I had a lot of time to think,” Rossi reflected in an interview with Motorsport.com. “There were days when I thought, ‘Maybe this is it. Maybe this is the time to stop.’”
COVID-19 Hits Home
As the season finally resumed in July, Rossi’s struggles continued on the track. For much of 2020, he found himself fighting just to remain in the top 10, far from his usual podium finishes. But the worst was yet to come. In October, Rossi tested positive for COVID-19 and was forced to miss two critical races. The virus sidelined him just as he was beginning to feel some rhythm again, and the physical toll was more severe than he anticipated.
“Getting COVID was the worst thing that could have happened to me that year,” Rossi admitted in a candid interview with The Race. “I was already struggling, and then when I got sick, it took so much energy out of me. I was tired all the time, and I couldn’t train properly for weeks.”
The isolation and physical toll of COVID-19 left Rossi questioning whether he had the strength to continue. Even after recovering, he found it difficult to get back to peak fitness, which affected his performance in the final races of the season.
A String of DNFs and the Lowest Point
While COVID-19 took a heavy toll on Rossi’s physical health, his on-track struggles were perhaps the most crushing blow. He suffered a series of crashes and DNFs (Did Not Finish) that further dented his confidence. His lowest point came in the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Misano, a track that had always been special to him, being so close to his hometown of Tavullia.
Rossi crashed out of the race while in a competitive position, a gut-wrenching moment for the veteran rider who had hoped to deliver a strong performance in front of his home fans. It was one of several incidents in a season filled with disappointment.
“I had so much hope for Misano, but it was one of the worst moments of my career,” he later said in an interview with Sky Sports Italia. “I started to think maybe it wasn’t meant to be anymore.”
The 2020 season was, by all accounts, Rossi’s worst since he began racing in MotoGP. He finished 15th in the standings, his lowest championship finish since his rookie year in 1996. For a rider used to competing at the front, it was a brutal reality check.
A Flicker of Hope and a Decision to Keep Going
Despite the setbacks, Rossi’s competitive spirit never fully dimmed. Even during his lowest moments, there were flickers of the old magic. At the Andalusian Grand Prix in Jerez, Rossi rolled back the years with a vintage performance, finishing third to secure his only podium of the season. That podium served as a reminder to both Rossi and his fans that he still had what it took to compete.
“After that podium in Jerez, I felt like I could still fight,” Rossi said. “It wasn’t the season I wanted, but moments like that showed me that I still had the passion.”
Rossi’s decision to continue racing in 2021 was not made lightly. He weighed the prospect of retirement heavily, discussing it with close friends and family. Ultimately, he chose to push forward, signing with Petronas Yamaha SRT for the 2021 season. Though it would be his final year in MotoGP, Rossi wanted to leave on his own terms, not because of a difficult season marred by a pandemic.
“I didn’t want to finish like that,” he explained in a press conference. “I wanted to race one more year, to enjoy it, and to say goodbye to my fans properly.”
Legacy Cemented, Despite 2020’s Challenges
Though 2020 was one of the toughest years of Rossi’s career, it did little to tarnish his legendary status in the sport. If anything, the resilience he showed in continuing to compete, despite mounting challenges, only added to his mystique. Rossi’s decision to keep racing in 2021, and to retire on his own terms, ensured that his final chapter in MotoGP was written with dignity and grace.
As Rossi himself reflected in a post-retirement interview: “2020 was difficult, but it didn’t break me. I kept going, and that’s what I want people to remember.”
In the end, the 2020 season may have nearly ended Rossi’s career, but it also highlighted his unwavering determination to keep fighting—a trait that defined him throughout his extraordinary career in MotoGP.