Loris Capirossi at ease with retirement decision

Loris Capirossi says he’s 100 per cent convinced that he made the right choice to quit MotoGP at the end of the 2011 campaign.

The Italian veteran retired after 22 years in the world championship paddock in which he competed in an astonishing 328 races.

He won three world titles and 29 races and bowed out at Valencia earlier this month on 99 podiums.

Capirossi’s final Grand Prix was made an even more emotional affair following the tragic death of friend and fellow Italian Marco Simoncelli during last month’s Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang.

The 38-year-old raced with Simoncelli’s number 58 on his Pramac Ducati and hung up his leathers despite being offered the chance to join the Forward Racing Team that Colin Edwards signed for next season.

Capirossi told MCN: “I tried to really understand before I made my decision whether it was right or not. But in the end when I decided to stop it was because it was the right time for me. After 22 years in the paddock a new life starts for me now. For 22 years each time I have come to the paddock I have done so as a rider, but now I go in the opposite direction and I will be more like a normal person. But I am happy about that.”

It has been confirmed that Capirossi will remain part of the MotoGP world championship next season having accepted an advisory role on safety matters. And in recognition of Capirossi’s contribution to Grand Prix racing, Dorna has also made the request to the FIM that his number 65 be retired from use in MotoGP.