Mika Ahola retires from racing…

In the wake of the announcement that five-time Enduro World Champion, Mika Ahola, had signed a two year contract with Jotagas, it’s come to light the Finnish enduro star will retire from racing.

After a solid 21 years of enduro racing, the 37-year-old has decided he doesn’t have the hunger for winning anymore. “I have given everything I’ve got for this sport”, said Ahola. “It has given me back more than I could have ever imagined when I started racing. First I won everything in my homeland, Finland. Then I threw myself in the world championships, riding for different Italian teams and proved myself to be fast but on five occasions I landed just one position short of a world championship title. Then, against all odds I started winning world titles at an age when most talked about retiring. It has been a hell of a ride: fiv consecutive world titles won in all three categories and the last one won as the oldest champion in the EWC history! With these new world records set on 2011 I feel my ambition for this sport completely satisfied. You can add to that three overall championship titles – though the FIM hasn’t recognised overall titles since 2004. I’ve been the fastest rider overall at the ISDE three times and on Finland’s winning team seven times. I feel like it’s time for me to move on and see what else the world has to offer. Finally, I want to thank all the people who have supported me throughout my racing career and all the riders I have got to battle through the years.”