Three-times Isle of Man TT winner Adrian Archibald has announced he is unlikely to race again, citing a lack of financial support for his decision.
Archibald took victory in both the Formula One and Senior TT races in 2003, an event overshadowed by the death in practice of his TAS Suzuki teammate David Jefferies.
He won the Senior TT again a year later.
The 43-year-old has won at almost every circuit he has raced in his 21-year career, including the North West 200 and Ulster Grand Prix.
At the TT in 2012 Archibald achieved two top 15 finishes with his own AMA Racing squad, with his lap speeds still well into the 120mph-plus bracket.
But this week he announced his racing days are almost certainly over.
Archibald, of Ballymoney, told The Newsletter newspaper:
“I sat down with my sponsor and we decided that we wouldn’t run the team this year and after that I decided that I’d just forget about it.”
“Sponsorship was going to be light enough this year and between the two of us we decided that would be it.
“I would say I probably won’t race ever again, but it’s not something that bothers me. It’s just come to that time now and it’s no big deal.”
He added:
“I’m happy enough with my career when I look back at it.”
“I won races everywhere so there’s not much I can complain about. My TT wins are obviously the biggest ones for me - the TT and the Ulster Grand Prix were always my favourite races and no doubt I’ll probably miss them a bit.”
“I think I was lucky to be racing in some of the good times because we had big grids for every race and there was a really good, quality line-up.
“I just tried to keep it as safe as I could over the years and I was just lucky that I got away with it.”
“But now it’s time to forget about it.”
The news also made lead story on the back page of Motor Cycle News, and the publication quoted Archibald as saying:
“You’ll never see me at a race again. If I’m not racing I wouldn’t be interested in any other kind of involvement.”
“I could never just watch.”