Pramac Racing Ducati rider Loris Capirossi has decided to call it a career at the conclusion of the 2011 season during a press conference prior to the Misano round of the MotoGP World Championship. The 38-year-old Italian has been campaigning the World Grand Prix Championship for 22 years, and was the first rider to start 300 races in the sport’s history when he finished ninth at the season-opening Qatar round in 2010. He is one of only two riders left in the MotoGP class (Valentino Rossi being the other) who were racing the premier Grand Prix category when it was populated by the vicious 500cc V-four two-strokes.
Loris Capirossi calls it a...
Loris Capirossi calls it a career after 22 years in GP racing.
Capirossi started off by winning the 125cc World Championship in his debut year in 1990 at age 17, and successfully defended his title the following year. He moved up to the 250cc class for two years, finishing both seasons in the top three. This was followed by a move to the 500cc class, riding for the Pileri Honda team in 1995 and Wayne Rainey’s Marlboro Yamaha team in 1996. The big two-stroke multi-cylinder machines proved to be a tough nut to crack however (although he did win the final race of the 1996 season), and Capirossi returned to the 250cc class in 1997. Although he ended up winning the 250cc title the following year, it was not without controversy, as Capirossi took out Aprilia teammate (and title rival) Tetsuya Harada several corners from the finish to guarantee himself the championship. Aprilia wasn’t impressed with Capirossi’s sportsmanship, and declined to re-sign him at the end of the season despite the prestige of having the number one plate.
Capirossi poses with the only...
Capirossi poses with the only other rider left in MotoGP who has raced the 500cc two-strokes, Valentino Rossi.
He returned to the 500cc class in 2000, and saw its change over to the four-stroke MotoGP category, but he was not able to actually ride one until he signed with the Ducati team for 2003. He was able to give the team their first win in its debut season at the Catalunya round, but it wasn’t until the 2006 season that the Capirossi/Ducati combination looked to be gelling and be a threat for the title. He won the opening round at Jerez, and followed that up with two more podium finishes that put him in a tie for the championship lead heading into Catalunya. Unfortunately Capirossi was involved in a massive first turn pileup that knocked him unconscious, and it completely derailed his title bid from that point.
Capirossi rode with the Suzuki MotoGP team for three years starting in 2008, before eventually signing with the Pramac Ducati team for this season.
“It’s an important moment in my career, and the decision I made has come about after a lot of reflection,” said Capirossi. “I’m happy that after 25 years, of which 22 were in the world championship, I’m at a point where I can still have a smile on my lips as I part ways, even if it’s difficult to think that I won’t be riding a bike next year. I must think the many, many people who over the years have followed me, encouraged me, motivated me. That includes Team Pramac, who gave me my final opportunity to race a motorcycle. I’m sorry that I haven’t brought home good results this year, but I’m confident for the final part of the championship. Motegi, Phillip Island, and Sepang are my favorite tracks, and I’ve won many races there. It will be difficult to get my hundredth podium, but I’ll fight to the end. As for my future, I still don’t have clear ideas. The only sure thing is that I won’t be a racer anymore. In life, it’s not easy to make these decisions, especially after so many years. Still, I’m sure that my new life will be thrilling, just like the one before it was.”