Valentino Rossi,with nine Grand Prix World Championships to his name – seven of which are in the premier class, has announced his retirement from the sport after 22 seasons in the top division. During a special press conference on the eve of this weekend's Styrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring, Rossi announced that he will retire at the end of the 2021 season. “Like I mentioned earlier in the season, I'd make a decision for next year and after the summer break, and I've chosen to retire at the conclusion of the season,” he added. "Unfortunately, this will be my final half-season in MotoGP," he said. In 2000, the 42-year-old made his top-flight debut, and the following year, he won the first of his seven titles. Rossi won his first three championships with Honda before switching to Yamaha in 2004 and winning four more titles over the next seven years.