MOTOGP » Shinya Nakano announces retirement

Thanks for the memories!

super-shinya!

great racer - total gent - so nearly 250 champ - and that crash at mugello!!

I've never been his fan but now I'm feeling a bit sorry for him. He is too young to retire but it's his choice and I respect it.
Good luck Shinya, hope your best times are ahead.

I believe he is also one of the few riders to hold a university degree (mechanical engineering), so he has many options available now that his racing career is finished. Best of Luck mate!

Good luck to you Shinya in whatever the future may hold.

I was completely gutted when he lost the 250cc title to Jacque at the last race on the last lap. I always thought he was the better racer of the 2.

Nakano wasn't shabby on a 500cc.

I will never forget when he was tossed over the bars of his Kawasaki 990 at Mugello at over 200mph when his rear Bridgestone exploded on the front straight. He could have easily been killed. THE VERY NEXT WEEK he raced and if I'm not mistaken placed 7th. It was a heroic ride to say the least.

Jacques has been somewhat underregarded I think, and came close to being the only 2-stroke GP winner after the 4-strokes reentered MotoGP - being taken out of the Portuguese GP by Barros while leading (with Rossi at third at that point). But I think it clear that after leaving 250's the equipment made available to Nakano rarely gave him a chance to be competitive to the level of his talent. And I've no doubt Kawasaki would have a much worse record in MotoGP than they do currently without Shinya's great development contribution.

Could great things be on the horizon for Shinya? Hm former racer with a mechanical engineering degree and high respect and favourability with the Big 4... Last guy with that resume was T. Baba - daddy to the Fireblade...

Good luck Shinya, loved it when you were on track!

it wasn't at the portugese GP it was at the Sachsenring in germany.....
As for the comment about him having a university degree....well that means nothing these days....i know loads of people with university degrees who are jobless now and twiddling there thumbs.......degrees are dime a dozen these days and you might as well buy one at Tesco's.......

Always hate to see a racer have to retire early due to injuries but good luck for the future, he seemed to be a nice guy, a refreshign change from the gigantic egos in the paddock!

Super Shinya !!