Davies ‘excited’ for final race weekend, trying not ‘to think’ about retirement

Three-time WorldSBK runner-up Chaz Davies will compete in his final races this weekend before retiring from the sport.

Davies, who announced his decision to retire at the Jerez round, will be replaced by WorldSSP rider Philipp Oettl at GoEleven Ducati in 2022.

For Davies, these last three races of the season will conclude a ten-year career in WorldSBK that has yielded 34 wins - 30 of which have come for Ducati - the manufacturer he’s been with since 2014. 

However, 2021 has been far from smooth-sailing for the Welshman as a move across to GoEleven from the Aruba.it Ducati (has remained on full factory machinery) team and injury has proved difficult for the 34 year-old to overcome. 

With his looming retirement just three days away, Davies believes it’s going to be an ‘emotional and different’ type of weekend to anything he’s experienced before.

"Here we are, the last race of the season and the last race for me. Obviously it is gonna be an emotional and different race weekend, different feeling for me, but we are here to do the same job as always, which is to get the best possible result," said Davies. 

"We are on a new circuit that looks amazing, a new country for the championship, which is always something exciting and creates an interest for the riders as well. 

"I am ready and excited to explore a new track, and to bring home the best possible results, I try not to think too much about on Monday I start a new life. 

"I have not to think too much about it and concentrate on the job that we have to do, trying to work as well as possible with the team, and more than everything, I just try to enjoy the weekend as much as possible. I can't wait to be on track!"