Stoner to retire after MotoGP season
Twice world motorcycling champion Casey Stoner stunned the sport on Thursday by announcing he will quit at the end of the season for “family reasons”.
The 26-year-old Australian, who has won 35 MotoGP races in his career and leads the current standings after winning two of the season’s three events, made his announcement at a news conference ahead of Sunday’s French Grand Prix.
“After a long period of thought and numerous discussions with my wife and family, I have decided to stop competing at the end of the season,” said Honda’s defending champion.
“After so many years taking part in this sport that I love, and with all the sacrifices that I have had to make, I no longer have the passion to continue and I think that it is best to stop.”
Stoner, who also won the world title in 2007 with Ducati, became a father for the first time in February when his wife Adrianna gave birth to a baby daughter.
At the time he shrugged off suggestions that fatherhood would dampen his love of motorcycling.
“They say you slow down when you get married, but in my first year of marriage I won the title,” said Stoner on the eve of the season.
“When I found out we were having a baby, I won it a second time. I don’t think that’s the case (that you slow down).”
Stoner joined the elite MotoGP class in 2006 with a satellite Honda team after working his way through the 125cc and 250cc ranks following his debut as a 125cc wildcard at Donington, England, in 2001.
His switch to Ducati in 2007 proved an inspired decision as he won the MotoGP season-opener in Qatar, followed by nine more victories that propelled him to the world title.
He moved to the factory Honda team last year and clinched his second title on home ground at Phillip Island, having already won nine races. Stoner closed the season with a 10th victory in Valencia.
“Casey just announced that 2012 will be his final year in the MotoGP Championship. Let’s hope he has a fantastic year,” said his Honda team on Twitter on Thursday.
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The Crowd Says (10) | Page 1 of Comments
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May 18th 2012 @ 10:28am
Mals said | May 18th 2012 @ 10:28am | Report comment
Still only 26 years old, I wonder how long he will stay retired…?
May 18th 2012 @ 11:17am
Stumpy said | May 18th 2012 @ 11:17am | Report comment
He’s frustrated with the dilution of the sport, the end of prototype bikes and most likely the constant rubbish that is thrown his way from so “fanbois”.
If he is going to race in a control/silhouette series he might as well come home and race V8s and be close to his young family.
He has nothing to prove he is the fastest rider racing against the most talented field since the 80 to early 90s, anyone who looks at what he has done objectively can only conclude he is one of the greatest riders of all time.
Rossi’s failure on the Ducati has high lighted just how difficult that bike was to rider yet Casey was winning races on the “Red Pig”.
Good luck to him in whatever he chooses to do.
May 18th 2012 @ 1:10pm
Brendon said | May 18th 2012 @ 1:10pm | Report comment
Correction. He has the potential to be one of the greatest of all time. Even if he wins this year’s championship that gives him 3 titles. Potential and talent doesn’t make you great – using the potential and talent to do great things makes you great. Part of being a champion is taking the opportunities provided to you.
It will be interesting to see what he does next or if he returns to MotoGP if his concerns on how its run are fixed.
May 18th 2012 @ 4:04pm
Stumpy said | May 18th 2012 @ 4:04pm | Report comment
@ Brendon
He has made a fool of one who people have been calling the “GOAT” and had Stoner had the same level of machinery as Rossi was gifted it would be a forgone conclusion.
His legacy and legend will only grow from this decision.
Rossi proved just how good Stoner is the moment he sat on the Ducati and was drastically slower and now having changed everything that made the Ducati into an Italian Yamahonda he is still slower having millions spent on development .
Greatness/Genius is apparent the moment you see it, time just reaffirms it and allows those a little slow to see it for what it truly is.
The sport is losing one of it’s greats and for 5-7 years the same question will be asked, could the Moto GP Champion of each year beaten CS?
If Honda give him equal or near equal equipment for the rest of the year he’ll win baring injury.
But that won’t change that fact that he has beaten everyone he’s had to compete against more often then they’ve beaten him in a field of more Champions then anyone has ever had to compete with and most times on far inferior equipment.
You may not like the man but get a grip no one rides like Casey and he is most definitely a great.
May 18th 2012 @ 5:10pm
Brendon said | May 18th 2012 @ 5:10pm | Report comment
Stone went 2008, 2009 and 2010 without winning the championship on the Ducati.The way you are making it out that Stoner switched after his 2007 championship year and won the next year. He had 3 years of failing to win the title on the Ducati in which Rossi won twice.
Theres no doubting Stoner’s talent but talent alone is not enough to make a sportsperson great. You actually have to achieve something. By walking away from MotoGP early Stoner will not be in the same league as Rossi, Doohan or Agostini. He’ll be in the same league as Rainey, Roberts and Lawson. Thats not to say Stoner could not have joined those ranks, he definitely could have but until he does the work required it doesn’t matter how talented he is.
And the whole Stoner is better than Rossi thing is just nationalistic, patriotic BS. Sorry, but thats the truth.
May 18th 2012 @ 11:27pm
Stumpy said | May 18th 2012 @ 11:27pm | Report comment
Look at the win loss records Brendon since Stoner came to the premier class while Rossi was on one of the greatest, best sorted bikes of all time. Stoner has more wins while riding a dog that Rossi managed to get 1 gifted podium on. And the first season Stoner was on a satellite bike and still managed a pole while Rossi was being gifted overnight specials from Michelin to give him a massive advantage over the rest of the field
Rossi showed himself to be a fraud.
Remember Rossi spruiking that Stoner wasn’t riding hard enough on the Ducati, his trap shut when he saw the data and tried to replicate Stoners results.
It has nothing to do with nationalism it’s fact.
We’re all still wait for the 80 seconds to start for when Rossi and JB bring the Ducati up to speed.
Everyone other the Rossi fanboi’s know this if they have been following the sport.
Your truth is a lie Brendon
I
May 18th 2012 @ 12:13pm
Eric said | May 18th 2012 @ 12:13pm | Report comment
Classy bloke. Better warn the cattle back on his farm.
May 18th 2012 @ 2:38pm
Johnno said | May 18th 2012 @ 2:38pm | Report comment
Bad move in my opinion shouldn’t he continue to make and enjoy the big money for his wife and kids, being a motorbike star,.
May 18th 2012 @ 4:45pm
Australian Rules said | May 18th 2012 @ 4:45pm | Report comment
He’s 26 years old and worth millions.
He has a beautiful young wife and kid.
He says he wants to spend more time with his family.
Can anyone honestly question his decision? It only increases my respect for him.
May 22nd 2012 @ 4:22am
Lee said | May 22nd 2012 @ 4:22am | Report comment
He won’t have the benefit of the best bike as they move towards crt. It will get tough and he’d rather run out on a high that fight wth up and coming young sharks. He knows the hunger it takes to catch and he can see what happens when they smell blood. He’s gonna avoid the heat and get out the kitchen