Bradley Smith pondering retirement
Bradley Smith could call time on his racing career at the end of this season.
The Englishman will leave the factory KTM team after November's Valencia finale and, if an alternative MotoGP seat does not become available, is prepared to 'close the chapter and step away.'
"At the end of the day I want to be here, inside MotoGP," Smith said at Mugello on Saturday afternoon.
"I have had a fortunate career where I have been able to ride the best motorcycles in the world against the best riders.
Bradley Smith could call time on his racing career at the end of this season.
The Englishman will leave the factory KTM team after November's Valencia finale and, if an alternative MotoGP seat does not become available, is prepared to 'close the chapter and step away.'
"At the end of the day I want to be here, inside MotoGP," Smith said at Mugello on Saturday afternoon.
"I have had a fortunate career where I have been able to ride the best motorcycles in the world against the best riders.
"If one of those bikes inside this championship is not available then I am happy to close the chapter on this racing and step away."
Smith, who made his grand prix debut back in 2006, added he would probably "still be involved here, but no longer in racing".
Asked to confirm he meant walking away from competitive racing, the double MotoGP podium finisher replied:
"Absolutely. I’m happy. At 28 I’ve had a good run at this.
"I’ve enjoyed every part of what I have done and at the end of the day I only do this because I have the chance to ride the best tyres, work with the best people and manufacturers - like I did with Aprilia, with Tech 3 and with Yamaha and KTM.
"That's what makes me motivated. Results are fun but the thing that gets you up in the morning is knowing you are in that top 1% and I’d like to remain there. If that is [no longer] my situation then I don't know how interested I would be to carry on.
"That's where I’m at."
The triple 125GP race winner would however consider a MotoGP test and wild-card role, similar to Mika Kallio's current position at KTM.
"It all depends on what becomes available, because at least with the test rider thing you still get the chance to be in this paddock and ride the best motorcycles.
"What Mika is doing is fantastic and whether those types of opportunities become available we’ll have to see.
"But unless it is on a MotoGP bike my heart is telling me right now I’m not really into anything else."
And that includes a switch to World Superbike, despite being part of Yamaha's winning team at the 2015 Suzuka 8 Hours.
"I’m not a production bike racer. I have always ridden race bikes and I know what I am good at and what I enjoy.
"Don't get me wrong, WorldSBK is rammed full of talent but I’m not sure a production bike is right for me."
Smith has qualified 17th for Sunday's Mugello race, two places behind team-mate Pol Espargaro, who will partner new factory KTM signing Johann Zarco in 2019.
After his 125cc race wins, Smith took three Moto2 rostrums for Tech3 before stepping up to the premier-class with the French team in 2013.
Smith finished sixth in the MotoGP standings in 2015, signed to join the new KTM project at the start of 2016 and made his RC16 debut in testing at the end of that year.
Countryman Scott Redding is also facing an uncertain MotoGP future, with speculation he will be replaced at Aprilia.
Peter has been in the paddock for 20 years and has seen Valentino Rossi come and go. He is at the forefront of the Suzuki exit story and Marc Marquez’s injury issues.
