MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa announces retirement

- The ‘Little Samurai’ decides to retire at the end of current season

- Is the most successful rider to not win the MotoGP World Championship

- Will be inducted into the MotoGP Hall of Fame at the last race in Valencia

Dani Pedrosa, known as the ‘Little Samurai’ because of his diminutive stature and due to being a Honda rider for his entire racing career, has decided to retire at the end of the current MotoGP season. He has been racing for 18 years and won three World Championships in that time – one 125cc and two 250cc championships.

“It’s a decision I’ve thought about for a long time and it’s a hard decision because this is the sport I love but despite having good opportunities to keep racing, I feel like I don’t live racing with the same intensity as before and I now have different priorities in my life” said Pedrosa at a press conference organised at the Sachsenring, whose MotoGP round will be held this Sunday. 

Pedrosa remains one of the most successful MotoGP riders of all time, with the third-most podiums in MotoGP history to his credit. He came really close to winning the championship a couple of times, but it was not to be. He has never gone a single MotoGP season without a win, and hopefully he’ll keep that record intact before the current season is over. 

The 32 year old had the opportunity to sign with the new-for-2019 SIC Petronas team, which will be a satellite squad using Yamaha machinery. Ultimately, however, he decided that retirement was the better option. Many believed that his riding style coupled with the Yamaha’s handling would produce excellent results, but that is a question that will be forever unanswered now.