By David Kent for the Daily Mail

Published: 17:30 EDT, 14 November 2021 | Updated: 20:30 EDT, 14 November 2021

The curtain came down on the amazing career of the greatest motorbike racer ever on Sunday as Valentino Rossi bowed out after 26 years.

Rossi finished 10th in his final race — the Valencia MotoGP — with tributes pouring in from all over the world.

Brazil football legend Ronaldo, a close friend, waved the chequered flag and video messages from Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Tom Cruise, Gianluigi Buffon and Andrea Pirlo were broadcast to the crowd of 75,000. 

MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi (centre) has bid an emotional farewell to motorbike racing

Rossi is still the only rider to win world titles in 125cc, 250cc, 500cc and MotoGP in his career

Rossi, the only rider to win world titles in 125cc, 250cc, 500cc and MotoGP, capped his day with a lap of honour and a firework display, after the race was won by Francesco Bagnaia.

The seven-time MotoGP champion is considering a move into car racing but, whatever happens, his position as a motorbike icon is guaranteed forever.

He retires after 432 grand prix starts, 115 race wins and nine world titles on the Honda and later with Yamaha. His final championship came in 2009. 

The seven-time MotoGP champion, now 42, is said to be considering a move into car racing

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