Australian stunt rider Lukey Luke has called time on his professional stunt career, with his final performance scheduled for this weekend’s WorldSBK championship round at Phillip Island.

Luke ‘Lukey Luke’ Follacchio will retire his renowned stunt show to focus on his business ventures and to spend more time with his family.

“I feel particularly blessed to be able to end my career this way. While the old body isn’t 100 per cent, I am still able to give my everything at shows and this final weekend is going to go big!

“It’s been an amazing journey and there are so many people to thank. If young me could see what I’ve been able to do, where I have been able to perform, and the friends and fans I would make along the way, well, like me, he’d be pretty stoked!

“My family have been there every step of the way from my early days to now and without them I would never have been able to make this strange sport my career.

“It’s impossible to adequately express my gratitude to all of my sponsors along the way. I’ve always tried to give more than I have received and never taken their generosity and support for granted.

“Finally, to my fans and followers- thank you! When I started there was no Facebook, no Instagram and I wrap up my career with some three quarters of a million fans worldwide!

“While I love having this sort of social following, nothing bears seeing people at events and putting on the best possible show for them. It’s still my greatest thrill.

“So while it’s a great time to look back, I am determined to have a huge weekend at The Island, one last time!”

With Lukey retaining his brand ambassadorship with Peter Stevens Importers (PSI) it’s unlikely that fans have seen his last wheelie, and he’ll continue to be a present figure in the motorcycle industry as he owns and operates his motorcycle workshop in Melbourne, Benzina Garage.

“Having known Lukey for the past 15 years and sponsoring him for the past six, it has been amazing to see his stunt riding, business interests and family change over that time,” said PSI head of marketing Nigel Harvey.

“While his retirement marks the end of one of the most celebrated motorcycle stunt riders in Australia’s history, it’s also the start of a new chapter for Luke. At PS Importers we are proudly a family business, and Luke is part of that family.

“His passion, enthusiasm, and skill on two wheels is infectious and seeing him throw a leg over any bike, makes you want to ride.

“It is for this reason that we continue to partner with Luke, to share the stoke of riding motorcycles with our customers, friends, and families,” Mr Harvey concluded.

Credit: Spencer Leech

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