Ever since his Yukon Quest finish, Hans Gatt keeps saying he is retiring from long distance sled dog racing.

But after Saturday's Finish and Awards Banquet, Yukon Quest fans may just be in for a treat in 2011.

"All I can say is, be careful what you wish for,” Gatt said, in response to numerous calls for a rematch from his fellow mushers.

Second place finisher Lance Mackey and third place musher Hugh Neff both called on Gatt to sign up for next year, with Mackey hoping for a tie-breaker. Both have won the race four times.

"I know there's been talk of Hans retiring. He says that every year,” Mackey said. "But I gotta challenge you to come back and at least break the tie.”

Mackey's comments caused the audience to erupt in cheers, as thoughts turned to a potential show down between the four-time champions.

Gatt approached the podium next to issue his warning to Neff and Mackey.

The veteran went on to speak about how great a race it was this year, commending his competitors on their sportsmanship.

"I don't remember a Yukon Quest that was so easy going,” Gatt said. "It was a very fair race.

There were never bad words out there between the racers.”

Neff told the crowd how lucky he felt to be in the company of Mackey and Gatt.

"I don't really consider myself a musher, I'm just an actor pretending to be a musher,” he said.

Neff joked about his friend Mackey, and told a few stories from the trail, including passing the champion while he slept on his sled.

"Believe it or not, Lance Mackey is human,” Neff joked.

The third place finisher said he is happy to call dog mushing his job.

"You guys think a thousand miles is a long way,” he said. "We just call this a day at the office.”

Neff said the race, deemed the toughest in the world is actually a lot of fun.

"I call it the biggest rollercoaster-ride in the world,” Neff said.

Mackey said he has been asked by many since his second place finish where he went wrong.

"I've been asked more times than not what happened,” he said. "I had one of my best races of my Yukon Quest career.”

With a team of mostly young dogs, Mackey was more than happy with their performance, and the promise they showed.

"I'll see you guys next year with a team that's ready to challenge for the front again,” he said.