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If I can win a Cup race, that would pretty much show my whole career that I've been able to win in everything I've gotten into.

From today I am no longer a racing driver. I'm retired and I am very happy.

My extensive career, with its victories and defeats, championships, etc., has been well documented. My entire life has been focused on being the best race car driver I can be.

I've decided to retire from top class racing. It has been an incredible experience and has provided with me some unforgettable moments.

I've enjoyed winning races in both 500cc and MotoGP and enjoyed leading the world championship and contesting it right up until the end.

Now that I have retired, and even though I wanted to play more, I can always look back and say that at least I won Wimbledon; also, winning the tournament in Rotterdam in 1995.

If I remain healthy, I can win more races, but I don't think so much about setting new records. I'm already proud to have become the leading Austrian World Cup racer.

In sport, all my fellow riders and trainers and the people I meet and deal with have just accepted the fact that I'm here forever.

I've been in motorsport my whole life since I was eight years of age.

I've always known there's more to life than just racing for a long time.