After a long, illustrious and outstanding career Mika Ahola is calling it a day and retiring from Enduro World Championship competition. In an email sent out just after the stroke on midnight on New Year’s Eve, the Finnish legend officially announced his decision to call a halt on professional racing following months of speculation about what 2012 would deliver. Having won everything and achieved everything he possibly could, the five-time world champion feels now is the perfect time to step back from the sport he loves…
Mika Ahola retires...
“After 21 years of Enduro competitions at the age of 37 I have come to a decision that took a lot of self-examination and soul-searching. The outcome was that I don’t have anymore enough ambition to continue so I will retire from racing. I have given everything I’ve got for this sport and although it has taken much, it has given me back more than I could have ever imagined when I started racing. First I won everything in my homeland, Finland, and become the fastest snow rider in the world. Then I threw myself in the world championships riding for different Italian teams and proved myself to be fast but 5 times landing just one position short of a world champion’s title. Then, against all odds I started winning world titles at the age when most talked about retiring. It has been a hell of a ride: 5 consecutive world titles won in all three categories and the last one won as the oldest champion of the history! “
“With these new world records set on 2011 I feel my ambition for this sport completely satisfied. You can add up also 3 overall champion’s titles even though FIM hasn’t recognized overall titles since 2004. I have been also the fastest rider overall at the I.S.D.E. 3 times and 7 times I have been also a rider of Finland’s winning team. My ambition for this sport has been completely satisfied and I feel like it’s time for me to move on and see what else the world has to offer than racing. Finally, I want to thank all the people who have supported me throughout my racing career and all the riders I have been battling with!”
Mika Ahola