Barros bows out.

One of the true gentlemen of the sport.
It will be the poorer without him.
Good luck Alex with whatever you decide to do.

Alex you was a great rider and I will miss you at MotoGP.
Good luck in future. ;)

... and one ex champeen is not going to rallying at rally GB? ... why? He have to start to learn riding not driving! It's better...

Fantastic Alex, great and positive story

I have fond memories of watching you race and hope you will have a wonderfull life ahead of you,
you made a lot of people happy

Nós, brasileiros ficaremos muito tristes de não ver mais Alex Barros pilotando na MOTOGP

Barros vc deve continuar na superbike no proximo ano e buscar ser campeao a superbike,nap para por favor,acompanho todas as corridas e vc e uma verdadeira inspiraçao a todos,gente burra que contrata tony elias e nakano que nao fizeram nada de bom esse ano,a petrobras devia montar um equipe com a honda,vamos cruzar os dedos pra que ele fique na superbike .FODA!

You will be missed Alex, thank you for all the memories.

I currently wear Alex's 2006 Brazil helmet and I love it!

It's been great watching you race all these years. You started racing in the top class just when I was getting into watching bike racing as a youngster. Now I'm feeling old. I hope life treats you well in the future.

if he does retire the bike world will lose one of its most popular racers we have known for years.
i would love to see him manage a race team or maybe even run a racing school in brazil and bring up some more young brazillians for my money the more we have the better our sport will be.

Should have stayed in WSBK and he would probably be on the best bike on the grid and a very strong chance for a WC.

What was his manager thinking letting him come back to MotoGP? Even the stupidest punter would have told him it will end his career.

Yea.. U were the new guy there in the mix of 500's with Lawson and company ..and u had a bike coloured with bright colours, green and yellow maybe.. maybe colours of brazilian flag and u were 17 years old if I remember correctly.. Watched it from Eurosport with my friend.. 1988 it was i think ;-) Yep, good luck with what ever u decide to do :-)

Wow....most of your posts make it sound as if the guy is already dead!!

Check out the interview quoted on motogpforum.com-- it is supposedly translated from Portugese...it gives a LOT on insight on the internal politics dealing with MOTOGP.

http://tinyurl.com/yvzmxy

Wow, it´s wonderful to read so many nice things about Barros!
In Brasil, Barros is not very popular and most of the people doesn´t understand how good is he and how hard is to be in the Motogp world so many years.
In his own country, some people call him a loser!!
We had a talented generation in F 1, so brazilians think that to be good means you MUST win all races and be world champion every year!
And Parker, you are quite right!
Barros never had a good staff by his side.
In my opinion, that´s why he had so many highs and lows in his career.
It´s good to watch Barros racing, but the guy has the right to rest.
In Brasil, we don´t have anyone to replace him!
Quite a pity!
Paulo

Any racer able to endure over two decades at the top of the sport is a Champion, even without winning a championship. Alex Barros' endurance and tenacity earned a spot in the hearts of motorcycle enthusiasts the world over. Given equal support and machinery he can ride with the best of the best, even at 37 years of age. His command of the english language may not be the best and hi was never known for track teatrics produced by the likes of Rossi and Lorenzo. But his unspoken determination kept him going long before most would have given up.
I am sad to learn that you won't have a competitive ride to keep on racing in MotoGP or WSBK. I will miss watching you race. Your admirer, Roberto.

Alex,
It has been a pleasure to watch you in MotoGP. You have added a lot to the sport. Good luck in your next endeavor.

Thank you, Alex, for all the good times!
Your racing has been a part of my life, thank you again.

The nice words writen say some about your decent character.

Rogério

Good luck Alex Barros, racing hero. What a star - will miss you next year

I started following motorbike racing after watching Barros ride for Cagiva and Lucky Strike Suzuki, and all I can say is that he gave me great memories of this sport which I now love. Thank you Alex! It will be strange to watch races without you and I wish you good luck on your next project. Whatever you do I am sure it will be a success as you are a top man. Hopefully we can see your son Lucas racing bikes soon, bringing the Brazilian flag, the #4 and the Barros name back into this great sport.

Nice enough chap, but was past it in 2005 and should have retired then.

At least its one less journeyman who has done nothing in 21 years on top machinery