There is very little that Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Valentino Rossi hasn’t done in his Grand Prix career but being apart of a Virtual Race was one of them until today. The 41-year-old lined up on the grid at the Red Bull Ring to make his Virtual debut and it didn’t disappoint.
Qualifying at the back of the grid wasn’t a concern for the nine-time World Champion because as we all know by now, The Doctor is a man for race day. There was action from the start too after he was one of many to get caught up in the opening corner carnage that saw nearly all of the field crash out.
He then started to battle with Ducati Team’s Michele Pirro and Danilo Petrucci throughout the race with his stand-out moment coming on the final lap when he lunged up the inside of Petrucci at the last corner in a desperate attempt to claim sixth place. However, the Italian got it slightly wrong and crashed out, meaning he had to settle for seventh in his maiden #StayAtHomeGP.
“I tried,” joked The Doctor after the race. “I tried at the last corner because Danilo was there, not too far away from me, but Danilo was too good on the PlayStation! So, I touched him and I crashed. But anyway, I enjoyed it! My level isn’t fantastic but I will try and improve. for sure.”