Pramac Ducati's Loris Capirossi received a rapturous round of applause in celebration of a long and distinguished motorcycle racing career during the Misano MotoGP press conference today after he announced he will retire at the end of this season.

Capirossi made a tearful speech to the assembled journalists, team members, riders and staff, and received a hug from nine-time world champion and compatriot Valentino Rossi. It brings to an end a 21-year career in racing for the 38-year-old Italian which began in 1990 when he won his first 125GP title at the first time of asking.

Another followed the year after as did a 250cc world title in 1998. Although he didn't capture the 500/MotoGP title, he did win nine races from 213 starts which also included 42 podiums, 13 poles and 10 fastest laps. He made it clear he will stop racing bikes and not move to another team or to World Superbikes.

"It is difficult for me to say this after 22 seasons but this for sure is my last race in Italy because I decide to retire at the end of the season. When I do the last race in Valencia, racing for me will stop. I won’t go to a different championship and I will stop racing completely," he said.

"I have been thinking a lot about stopping and I’ve kept saying yes and no, but I’m sure I’ve made the right decision. Sometimes you have to take the most difficult decision to stop. Sure to reach that decision is not easy, especially for me because I have a plan to ride the 1000 bike again next year. But during this season it has been really tough and always I’m looking at the future and to have a competitive bike is always more difficult."