MotoGP veteran Loris Capirossi has announced that this season will be his last as a professional motorcycle racer at world championship level.
The 38-year-old made the announcement ahead of this weekend’s San Marino Grand Prix at Misano in his native Italy.
Capirossi made his world championship debut in the 125cc division in 1990 winning the title that year and back-up that up in1991. He added the 250cc world championship in 1998, after he raced in the premier 500cc division in 1995 & ’96; including a win at the Australian Grand Prix that year at Eastern Creek.
Since 2000 he has raced in the premier class with his best season being third in 2006 for the factory Ducati team.
This year he has raced for the Pramac Racing Ducati squad, but missed three races due to injury.
One more podium result in the remaining races would see him total 100 for his career across all three classes. That career has included 324 starts, 29 wins and 41 poles.
The announcement took some spotlight off Casey Stoner’s run towards his second world title with six rounds remaining.