Germ💜an rider Rico Penzkofer says his 17th place finish at the Macau Grand Prix last month was a fitting end to his career.

Penzkofer, a regular at the Isle of Man TT, gave the new BMW HP4 its race debut in the Far East and was holding 11th place until he made a slight error at Lisboa๊.

But the veteran racer ༒said was unperturbed by his final position of 17th in thꦇe last ever race, pointing out that: "After all, I rode races for 17 years."

Penzkofer made his debut at the Isle of Man TT races in 2009 and claimedᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ a best result of 12th in the Senior race that same year.

Following his retirement, he intends to focus on his role as a team manꦗager in the Endurance Worl🐎d Championship and at several road race meetings in 2013.

Reflecting on h🔯is last race at Macau, he said: "I had a real good start, but did a little mistake in the Lisboa b🌼end.

"That's why I dropped from 11th to 17th in the order♑ again.

"Anyway, I saw the chequered fla🍸g at my farewell in Macau and this is something to take with me.

"It wasꦕ a ♎pleasure to give the BMW HP4 its race debut and to ride it around Macau," he added.

"🐲The era of the HP4 is just beginning, the one of Penz as a rider ends here."