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Italy's Loris Capirossi has announced that he will retire from MotoGP at the end of the 2011 season.
Capirossi, 38, currently riding a Ducati, is a three-time World champion.
The Italian was a double world champion for Honda in the 125cc class (1991, 1992) and captured sole world title for Aprilia in 1998 on a 250cc machine.
Ahead of the San Marino GP Capirossi said 22 seasons of racing had taken its toll and with a crop of younger challengers emerging, it was time to look to the future.
"I'm stopping at the right time after 22 seasons of competition. I've spent most of my life on a motorbike," he said.
Capirossi, the oldest rider in the world championship, has started 324 races across all categories, studded with 29 victories, nine of which have come in MotoGP.
FOUR YEARS WITHOUT A WIN
The last few years have been without victory for the former world champion, though. His last MotoGP win was in Japan back in 2007, with two third-places in 2001 and 2006 his best finishes in the last decade.
Capirossi is currently 16th on the points table and admitted he has been faced with the "hardest decision of his career: to stop competing".
"A lot of young riders are up and coming. Even though I had the chance to continue my career, I'm 100% sure I've made the right decision," he added.
Capirossi, 38, currently riding a Ducati, is a three-time World champion.
The Italian was a double world champion for Honda in the 125cc class (1991, 1992) and captured sole world title for Aprilia in 1998 on a 250cc machine.
Ahead of the San Marino GP Capirossi said 22 seasons of racing had taken its toll and with a crop of younger challengers emerging, it was time to look to the future.
"I'm stopping at the right time after 22 seasons of competition. I've spent most of my life on a motorbike," he said.
Capirossi, the oldest rider in the world championship, has started 324 races across all categories, studded with 29 victories, nine of which have come in MotoGP.
FOUR YEARS WITHOUT A WIN
The last few years have been without victory for the former world champion, though. His last MotoGP win was in Japan back in 2007, with two third-places in 2001 and 2006 his best finishes in the last decade.
Capirossi is currently 16th on the points table and admitted he has been faced with the "hardest decision of his career: to stop competing".
"A lot of young riders are up and coming. Even though I had the chance to continue my career, I'm 100% sure I've made the right decision," he added.
