Marco Bezzecchi
Kevin Schwantz opened up about the latter years of his career, and what factored into his decision to retire from MotoGP.
There is no denying that Schwantz is one of the greatest American MotoGP riders of all time, managing to make a name for himself during the Grand Prix motorcycle racing era.
With most of his success coming before the official rebrand to MotoGP, Schwantz’s name gets forgotten on occasion, despite his accolades.
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Schwantz represented Suzuki for 10 years, managing to win a championship in 1993 while he was at the pinnacle of his career.
However, just two years later, Kevin Schwantz felt he put other riders in danger by continuing to race despite his injury issues and declining form.
READ MORE: Kevin Schwantz spotted Marc Marquez still ‘banged up’ and ‘hurt’ at United States Grand Prix
Kevin Schwantz reveals his MotoGP career decision endangered other riders in 1995
Speaking with the Gas it Out podcast, MotoGP legend Kevin Schwantz talked about his struggles after winning the world championship in 1993.
After suffering a few crashes, Schwantz still continued riding in 1994 and 1995. However, he admitted that riding in 1995, when he was still struggling with injuries, put himself and other riders in danger.
“I don’t know how many more times I’ve been on the ground… How many bigger crashes? That’s part of the risk we take… When you start thinking about it, you’re done. In ’94, after I got hurt, and I’m riding hurt.
“I’m thinking to myself, ‘Wow, can I get back where I’m almost fit for the Laguna Seca?’ Then I have a crash there, dislocating my hip. And I should have said (that’s it).
“But you have three to four months in the offseason. Oh my god, I feel fit, healthy again. Most of the pain is gone. I’m going to try again in ’95. It was the silliest thing I ever did, was try and race in 95. Not only was I endangering myself, but other people, too.”
READ MORE: Kevin Schwantz tells Ducati why Francesco Bagnaia will ‘really cost you’ after Marc Marquez’s injury
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Kevin Schwantz explains how Wayne Rainey helped him realise he needed to retire from MotoGP
Speaking further in the podcast, Schwantz talked about how a conversation on a flight back to Texas with his archrival, Wayne Rainey, gave him the perspective he needed to retire.
“I went up and talked to him. He [Wayne Rainey] was like, ’Dude, what are you doing out there?’… At this point, we had started talking, but me and him talking, and him in a wheelchair; I hadn’t really gotten comfortable with that yet.
“I’m like, ‘What are you talking about? I’m freaking racing.’ He goes, ’No, you’re not. You’re out there racing, but it’s not you. You’re going to end up hurt.’…
“Of course, it wasn’t a very long conversation, and then I went back to my seat… The whole time, rest of my flight home, I think he’s just still mad because I’m still out there doing it. I got back to Texas and thought about it. Maybe he’s right…
“The team, I’m sure, when I was crashing out of the lead in a race, five-six seconds in front, six laps to go, the guys are going, ‘F—! What is his problem?’ I think most of the mechanics all came up and said, ‘Dude, that’s the right decision.’”
Schwantz and Rainey had an all-time great rivalry, one that many believe ranks among the best in the history of the sport.
So it is only fitting that Schwantz walked away from the sport after Rainey told him that he needed to call time on his career.
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