Source: Yamaha Motor Australia.

Yamaha Motor Australia has made the shock announcement that YRT with YMI’s Kevin Curtain has retired, effective immediately.

The legendary multiple-time Australian champion and former World Supersport runner-up made the decision following a disastrous opening round of the Australasian Superbike Championship at Wakefield Park earlier this month.

“I have been lucky enough to live a blessed life and through racing I have seen all parts of the world and met some amazing people,” Curtains commented. “But the motivation to continue at this level has dropped for me and I didn’t feel I could give my team, my family and my sponsors a 100 percent effort every time I went on the track.

“And for that reason, it is that I have decided to retire from racing. Motorcycles have been a huge part of my life and it wasn’t an easy decision as racing is my passion and I have dedicated so much of my life towards it. But I know it is the right thing to do and looking back I couldn’t have asked for more.

“I also would like to thank all the people who have been involved in my racing and who have assisted me in chasing my dreams. Riding the bike is the easy part, having the right people behind you, privately and professionally, make the job that much better and far more rewarding, so without going through a huge list of names, I thank everyone who has been there for me over the time.

“I look forward to a life outside of bikes and have some spare weekends now but I will always follow racing and with all the riders in one series here in Australia, things look to be back on track and the future looks good for the talented riders we have coming through.”

Curtain has been the mainstay of Australian road racing for years, starting way back in 1993 when he attended a road race event at Oran Park for the very first time. He was instantly hooked and in just two years, he was the 1995 Australian 250cc Production Champion.

His career continued to blossom and championships continued to flow in Australia when he then got the chance to move to Europe and contest the World Supersport Championship, culminating in the 2006 championship where he finished in second place.

He made a return back to Australia shortly after and signed on with the Yamaha Racing Team in 2010. He then went on to win the Australian FX-Superbike Championship three years running from 2010 through 2012 and also numerous championships in various support classes including Formula Oz and Supersport.

“Kevin will be sorely missed by all of us at YRT,” said team owner John Redding. “We have built up a great working relationship with Kevin over the time and watching him race our bikes and represent our brand has been our pleasure.

“He is a one in a generation rider and has won, earned and demanded the respect of the racing industry here in Australia. It has been great to work with him, an honour to stand behind him and on behalf of Yamaha we wish Kevin all the success and happiness in his life after racing.”

It’s unclear if Yamaha will replace Curtain on the team alongside Rick Olson, Cru Halliday and Robbie Bugden.