WATCH: Jimmie Johnson Reacts to MotoGP Legend Valentino Rossi’s Retirement

What is the similarity between Jimmie Johnson and Valentino Rossi? Simple. Both are arguably the greatest their respective sports have ever seen, not to mention immensely successful. But, now, one more thing has become common in the two legends. Both Johnson in 2020, and now Rossi in 2021, have bid goodbye to their sports.

Valentino Rossi’s farewell video contains a group of the most well-known faces in sports, celebrities and pop culture, one of which is Jimmie Johnson.

The NASCAR driver with most Cup Series titles in history congratulated Valentino Rossi for his incredible career. And, in very few words, described one of his biggest contributions to the sport.

“Valentino, congratulations on such an amazing career,” Johnson said.

“You’ve been such an inspiration to watch, you’ve added so much excitement to MotoGP.”

Apart from the fact that both Jimmie Johnson and Valentino Rossi retired in their 40s, there are many similarities in their careers in NASCAR and MotoGP.

The similarities between Jimmie Johnson and Valentino Rossi’s careers

Both Rossi and Johnson have won seven titles each in the premier class/tier of MotoGP and NASCAR. Although Rossi has nine titles in total if his 125cc and 250cc titles are considered.

The last wins in both their careers came in the same year. Johnson won his last Cup Series race in Dover, 2017 and Rossi won his last MotoGP race in Assen,2017.

Both Rossi and Johnson are heading in a similar direction because of similar reasons for the next stage of their racing career.

While Jimmie Johnson has put his foot on the pedal of IndyCar after getting the taste of a Formula One car, similarly Valentino Rossi is also aiming to enter car racing, which could be the result of testing a Formula One car many times in his career.

There are very few athletes whose impact on not only their sport but sports is so grand that the world can’t help but notice their grandeur. Fans, enthusiasts, rivals, common people, professionals and celebrities, all people from different backgrounds, all come together to thank them, to salute them.

There’s only ‘one’ of them, no predecessors, no successors.

There’s absolutely no doubt that there won’t ever be another Valentino Rossi, just as there won’t be another Jimmie Johnson, and the world will know of their presence in their absence.

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