Valentino Rossi details car racing training with “my imaginary friends”

MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi has detailed his at-home virtual training on a simulator, though he admits “more often than not” he doesn’t win these virtual races.

The nine-time grand prix motorcycle world champion made his full-time car racing debut in 2022, following retirement from MotoGP.

Valentino Rossi campaigned the GT World Challenge Europe, spending three seasons in the category, before focusing fully on his second FIA World Endurance Championship year in 2025.

After two years in WEC, Rossi returns to GTWCE this season with WRT as he remains a factory BMW driver.

Rossi: Car games “are great” for training

At-home simulator technology has grown to an advanced state in recent years, with the likes of Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen a regular user.

Speaking on the Tintoria podcast, Rossi details his own at-home simulator training and compares it with what was available to him during his MotoGP career.

“I train on the simulator, which is actually a video game, but at the highest level, iRacing,” Rossi said.

“You play on the PC. There’s a steering wheel that’s the same as the one in my car, with all the buttons.

“You can play online, but also by yourself and run tests. My girlfriend says I’m with my ‘imaginary friends’ on Discord. Online, I’m ValentinoRossi2. They had already taken the ‘one'.

“There are tons of levels up to the professional one. Sometimes I win, but more often than not I don’t.

“It’s different there, because the hours count and you still have to train. It’s immersive.

“I’m sitting at a station with brakes, and the cockpit is displayed across three screens, so you can really see the action!

“Car games are really great. Motorcycle games aren’t. There’s the MotoGP one, and the 2004 version was really good.

“I was riding the Yamaha. Unfortunately, there’s no simulator for motorcycles.

“You have to play with a controller, and it’s different. I’m from the generation that grew up with video games.

“When I was little, the first Atari came out with tennis. I also played Super Mario Kart.

“Our riders are really good at that... My brother [Luca Marini], [Franco] Morbidelli, and [Marco] Bezzecchi. It’s hard.

“To be fast, you have to be skilled. So, when I have time, I play and train.

“All F1 drivers play. Even Verstappen is a huge fan of simulators. According to him, training on them is even more important than going out in karts.

“It all takes place in the 'game room', where there are a few of my motorcycle and car suits, my best and famous helmets from my career, two simulators with iRacing and Gran Turismo, a pinball machine, a pool table, and a big TV.”