Niccolò Canepa Announces Retirement After Bol d’Or Finale

Italian Racing Legend and Ex-MotoGP Rider Ends Career with Final EWC Race in September.

Subscribe to our Telegram channel for instant updates!

Italian motorcycling veteran Niccolò Canepa has announced his retirement, set to take place after the Bol d’Or from September 12 to 15, marking the end of the 2024 World Endurance Championship (EWC) season.

The 36-year-old from Genoa has enjoyed a remarkable career, winning the EWC title twice and joining an exclusive group of riders to have claimed victories in all three major 24-hour races at Le Mans, Paul Ricard, and Spa-Francorchamps.

Canepa’s EWC achievements are extensive, including his historic win at the Bol d’Or in 2017, becoming the first Italian to do so. He later secured victories at the 8 Hours of Slovakia Ring in 2018/19 and the 8 Hours of Sepang and 12 Hours of Estoril during the 2019/20 season. 

In 2023, he played a pivotal role in YART Yamaha’s title-winning campaign, with victories and podiums across several prestigious races. Despite a shoulder injury earlier this year, Canepa set records in the 2024 EWC season and helped YART secure a podium finish at Suzuka. 

Alongside his endurance racing success, Canepa has competed in MotoGP, WorldSBK, Moto2, WorldSSP, and MotoE, and worked with Yamaha in testing and coaching roles.

20-year career spans MotoGP, WorldSBK, Moto2, WorldSSP, MotoE and EWC

Canepa reflected on his career, saying, “It has been a fantastic journey. I started racing minibikes when I was just nine years old, and at 19, I was already riding a MotoGP bike. I have been lucky to have enjoyed an incredible career; of course, there have been some difficult moments, but as a child, I would never have imagined that I would have had so much success and got so much enjoyment from this sport. 

I gave everything to racing, but I got back much more than I expected, and I have won two EWC titles and one in Superstock. Hopefully, we can make it three in EWC after the Bol d’Or. I have had the opportunity to race in many championships, such as MotoGP, WorldSBK, EWC, WorldSSP, Moto2, and MotoE. I am happy with what I have achieved. 

As a rider, you know when it is time to stop, and it feels like the perfect moment to retire after the Bol d’Or. I am already thinking about new challenges and starting a new chapter in my life.”