Carlos Checa retired at Jerez last weekend.

Former Superbike World Champion Carlos Checa will be an ambassador for Ducati, after announcing his retirement at Jerez in Spain last weekend.

The 41-year-old Spaniard wraps up a career of 20 years in the world championship, across the 250GP, 500GP/MotoGP and World Superbike categories. He was WSBK champion in 2011.

“This year I am celebrating 20 years of racing at world championship level,” Checa said. “I am extremely proud of this long sporting career, which has given me many special memories of all the teams I have worked with.

“I have had the opportunity to compete at the highest level, riding the best bikes and winning against the best rivals. My aim has always been to discover my limits and to be able to take a close look at myself in order to continue to learn, grow and become a better rider and a better person.

“This is something that would not have possible without taking this path, full of risk, but which has also provided me with great challenges, adversaries and emotions – a long climb which culminated with my best season in 2011.

“There is a moment that will always arrive in the life of a sportsman, the day on which you say enough is enough. This day has arrived for me today. It was not an easy decision, but one that I’ve thought long and hard about.

“I am grateful to the entire motorcycle family, to those who make it possible for this world to exist and especially to those who have supported me and followed me from the start, for having given me the opportunity to pursue my dream and live a life that I wouldn’t have changed for any other.

“I will now move on to discover new things about myself, a new and stimulating phase now begins for me in Ducati. It will take time to adapt but I am confident about my future and the satisfactions that it will surely continue to give me.

“Thanks again to everyone for being here to support me on what is a very special day for me, definitely emotional but also unforgettable.”

The Jerez circuit will dedicate part of its Hall of Fame to Checa when it opens in 2014.