Alison Parker has announced her retirement from competition in 2012.

After a decade-long illustrious enduro career, long term Yamaha rider Alison Parker has decided to call it quits and swap out her riding career for the role of motherhood.

Parker, the founder of Australian Women’s Enduro Development (AWED), achieved 10 consecutive Australian Four Day Enduro podiums, which included eight wins.

Parker also took out three International Six Days Enduro podiums along with being the first non-European woman to compete in the Women’s Enduro World Cup, in 2010.

Parker says she never planned on chasing such goals in the enduro world, after beginning her career in 2000 riding at club level motocross events.

“When I bought an old motocross bike and started racing in 2000, my imagination didn’t extend past club motocross events,” said Parker. “After meeting enduro racers Jason and Chris Cater, Stu Morgan and Geoff Ballard, my riding took on a whole new path.

“By 2002, I was to race my first A4DE, the Australian Safari in 2003, the inaugural Australian Off-Road Series in 2005 and, definitely the highlight of my career, the 2006 ISDE, where I was the top placed female by over 44 minutes.”

Parker is pleased to see her hard work and dedication paying off in the world of women’s motocross and enduro.

“I’m so pleased to have been able to see the increasing opportunities and participation of females in motocross and enduro over the last decade,” Parker added.

“When I started AWED, my motivation was to boost numbers participating in the women’s class at the A4DE and AORC, as well as improving Australia’s prospects of sending a female team to the ISDE.

“It’s great to see so many woman involved now, and for Australia to have two podiums in a row at the ISDE is fantastic.”

Parker and her husband are expecting their first child in August this year.