Source: MotoGP.

Texan Colin Edwards has announced he will retire at the close of the 2014 MotoGP World Championship during the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas press conference in Austin on Thursday.

Edwards, 40, has been riding professionally for 22 years and has been in MotoGP since 2003, notching up 12 podiums along the way, having come into the series as a two-time Superbike World Champion.

“In testing this year I could see that I need to change my riding style and it is against my instinct to ride differently so that has had an affect,” NGM Forward Racing’s Edwards said.

“I want to spend more time with my wife and my children and of course I want to say thanks to Yamaha and everyone who has helped me in my career.”

Edwards finished ninth at Qatar’s season-opening round aboard the YZR-M1 Open class entry, struggling to get a feel for the front-end early in the season.