Colin Edwards to retire at end of 2014

Colin Edwards has announced on the eve of his home MotoGP race in Texas today that 2014 will be his final season in motorcycle racing.

The 40-year-old used the pre-event press conference at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) to officially announce his retirement after a career spanning two decades in World Superbikes and MotoGP.

Edwards, who has made 187 MotoGP starts since his debut for Aprilia back in 2003, has scored 12 podiums but a win has always eluded the popular and outspoken American.

The closest he came was at Assen in 2006 when he fell at the final chicane while leading compatriot Nicky Hayden.

The undoubted highlight of his long career though was the second of his two World Superbike titles in 2002, when he defeated Troy Bayliss is a dramatic final round decider in Imola.

The married father of three said after spending so much time racing around the world that he was looking forward to spending more time at home in Texas with his family.

Edwards, who received a standing ovation after confirming his retirement at the end of the season, said: “I don’t know how to say it when I’ve rehearsed it so many times but 2014 will be my last year of racing motorcycles. I’ve talked with my beautiful wife (Alyssia) and I have been in Europe since 1995 and these young b******s are kicking my ass. I’m looking forward to spending some more time together with my family.”

Edwards, who has found it hard to match the pace set by Forward Racing teammate Aleix Espargaro in 2014, elaborated on his retirement decision and he added: “This year we started testing and I didn’t really see the improvement that I wanted to see and obviously the changing of the riding style, hell I’m 40-years-old and trying to change my riding style to make this bike work wasn’t really working.  As soon as you get into the intense moments you go back to your instincts and my instincts are to ride the bike differently. That and my kids and my wife. We’ve had a few conversations and there are some things that I miss out on. They are getting into baseball, gymnastics and school and I need to be home a lot more.”

Picking out a favourite career moment, it was no surprise when Edwards said his brilliant WSB win for Castrol Honda at Imola in 2002 was the standout race.

“For sure the second race in Imola in 2002 was one of my best races ever. If I had to say one moment that would be it and my Suzuka Eight-hour win with Valentino (Rossi) was also special, “said Edwards.