Colin Edwards Announces Retirement

Andrea Wilson | April 10, 2014

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANDREA WILSON

AUSTIN, TX, APR 10 – Colin Edwards dropped a bombshell at the MotoGP pre-race press conference at the Circuit of The Americas – Edwards will retire at the end of the 2014 season.

“I don’t know how to say it… 2014 will be my last year racing motorcycles,” Edwards said. “I have way too many people to thank… real quick I just want to say, I see him standing over there Bob Starr at Yamaha, Yamaha as a whole… you guys have helped me out a lot, so awesome. My beautiful wife and my kids I love you, looking forward to some more time together.”

So it is the end of an era for the two-time World Superbike Champion who has been racing motorcycles overseas since 1995. Edwards made the move from World Superbike to MotoGP in 2003 and after a little more than a decade in the paddock the Texan felt that it was time to hang up his hat.

“I don’t know… I guess really this year we started at the testing and didn’t really see the improvement I wanted to see,” Edwards said about what sparked the decision. “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. It wasn’t really working because soon as you get into the intense moment you go back to your instincts and my instincts are to ride the bike different.

“That and my kids… My wife and I did have had a few conversations and some things that I miss. And we’re getting into baseball and all this stuff and gymnastics and kids and school… I need to be home a little more.”

With almost two decades of experience racing at the World Championship level there’s a lot of racing memories to look back on.

“For sure the second race at Imola in 2002,” Edwards named as the one that stood out in his mind. “Me and [Troy] Bayliss… that was probably one of my best races ever.”

Although Edwards didn’t say more about his future plans besides spending more time with his family, he alluded to the possibility of still having a presence in the paddock.

“I might be looking for a job,” Edwards said.