Former triple British Superbike champion Niall Mackenzie will retire after Sunday's double-race finale to the MB4U.com British Championship at Donington Park.
The 39-year-old Scot, who rides for the INS-GSE Ducati team, is fifth in the rankings but said, “Although I am going to miss the irreplaceable buzz of racing and winning I am really happy with the my decision to stop racing. I am sure it's the right thing to do. Recently the edge has gone off the enjoyment of riding and I have always promised myself that I would stop when this happened.”
Mackenzie won both the British 250cc and 350cc titles twice before moving into a decade of 500cc World Championship action, during which time he had seven top-three finishes, including a third place in the 1993 British Grand Prix. He returned to domestic competition in 1996, riding for Yamaha in the new-look British championship.
Mackenzie was an instant success and in three years won 24 races, taking the title three times. He switched to the INS-GSE Ducati team as team-mate to Neil Hodgson this year. (PA)
Filed by Johnny Proby
