Valentino Rossi, the Italian professional motorcycle road racer and multiple time MotoGP World Champion, made his last race in Italy on Sunday before he retires next month after a celebrated 26-year career in the sport. The Italian racing legend - known as The Doctor - raced in the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in front of a crowd of emotional fans at his home track in Misano Adriatico, near Rimini in north-east Italy.

Among the onlookers was Italian foreign minister Luigi Di Maio who presented Rossi with a special award in recognition of his "phenomenal career" and his international role as an "ambassador of Made in Italy in the world." Rossi was also honoured with a fly-over by the Frecce Tricolori fighter jets which emitted green, white and red plumes representing the Italian flag as they flew past the race track in formation.