'Motorcycle season is officially open' - MotoGP Legend Valentino Rossi back on two-wheels at Portimao
The nine-time world champion, who sw🍌itched to sportscar racing after retiring from the premier class at the end ofꦍ 2021, took to the thrilling Portuguese Grand Prix circuit alongside the likes of newly crowned world champion Francesco Bagnaia plus fellow MotoGP riders Franco Morbidelli, Luca Marini and Marco Bezzecchi, as well as the Academy's Moto2 and Moto3 competitors.
"Back on track on 2 wheels in the marvellous Portimao with our guys. The motorcycle season is officially open,"🏅 Rossi, who holds the all-time premier-class record of 89 wins, wrote on Instagram, alongside a video from the outing (below).
The Italian, whose Academy is supportedꦆ by Yamaha while the Mooney VR46 Racing team uses Ducati machinery, was riding an R1. Rumours persist that the VR46 squad could become Yamaha's new satellite MotoGP team in the near future.
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Due to the strict MotoGP testing rules, active riders can only train on track with lightly modified production bik✱es.
— Pecco Bagnaia (@PeccoBagnaia)The VR46 competitors were using t🐠he two days at Portimao to get back up to speed ahead of official grand prix testing, which for the MotoGP class starts at Sepang in Malaysia from Februar♉y 10-12.
Meanwhile, ꧙Rossi is switching from Audi to BMW fꦡor his second season at the WRT squad in the GT World Challenge.
The 43-year-old began his BMW career with a podium finish in the 24 Houꦺrs of Du🦋bai earlier this month.
Peter has been in the paddock for 20 years and has seen Valentino Rossi come and go. He is at the forefront of♚ the Suzuki exit story and Marc Marquez’s ♕injury issues.
