MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi who has announced his retirement at the end of this season is the best racer, having created such a big impact throughout his 26-year career, national Moto2 racer Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah said.

Although the 42-year-old Italian motorsports icon’s performance has declined at the end of his career, Hafizh said Rossi’s reputation cannot be questioned after the successes he had achieved and his presence at the track has become an inspiration to young talents all over the world.

Hafizh, 27, did not deny the possibility that Rossi’s decision to retire was to give way to a wave of younger racers to mount a more intense challenge in the current MotoGP circuit.

“What I heard during yesterday’s interview, that he (Rossi) was saying it was enough for him, to me, he is still the best among all racers. In my youth, we looked up to him as an idol and icon till now,” he said in a video to reporters today.

Hafizh, a former national MotoGP racer, felt lucky to have been able to race with his idol.

“I am honoured and proud because I raced with him (Rossi) for two years and for one year, we were in the same camp, under Yamaha….so part of me could learn and compare data with him,” he said as he wished Rossi all the best in his future endeavours.

Rossi, who is racing for the Petronas Yamaha Sepang Racing Team (SRT), announced his intention to retire at the end of the 2021 season yesterday after winning the MotoGP championship a total of seven times.

— BERNAMA