Rossi scared of quitting MotoGP

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Terrassa (Barcelona), November23: Valentino Rossi is one of the iconic face in the world of MotoGP.

The Italian multiple champion, has conquered almost everything during his chequered career. But the 39-year-old Movistar Yamaha rider is probably in the twilight of his career.

And retirement is a frightening prospect for the superstar rider. “I’m afraid of quitting. It scares me; and one day it'll be hard to find something else,” Rossi said during an interview to BT Sport.

Rossi's words are hardly surprising considering the fact that he has been on the grid for almost 22 years.

"My life is about MotoGP,” Rossi added. The academy is good, but not quite the same. It'll certainly be interesting to start a MotoGP team. But that is a completely different world. You also need a manufacturer for this.

"Now we're doing the little classes to help our young drivers. We actually started by chance with Marco Simoncelli in the VR46 Riders Academy. Later Franco Morbidelli came, then my brother and Migno. Then the team was founded.

"I always look at the World Championship races of the Moto3 and Moto2 classes with my Academy boys. Sometimes I feel a bit tired then. But after that comes my own competition.”

Rossi came fifth in the 2017 MotoGP season -- well behind winner Marc Marquez.

Sooner or later, it would be time for the champion rider to turn the page which could be painful for someone like Rossi who has loved his job.

“What energises me is doing what I love, riding the bike, spending time with my friends or simply relaxing. What drains me is doing something I don't like, going to a place I don't want to be in,” he explained.

As he approaches 40, Rossi might struggle more than his younger rivals. He may have more experience to rely on, but he also has to train more intensely. This is simply the reality of the situation.

Yet Valentino doesn't give up, in fact he doesn't appear to have lost any of his enthusiasm.

When the enthusiasm dips, he will have to face the biggest challenge yet, his second life, as a non-rider. Perhaps behind the pit wall, involved in the bike world but in another role.