Stoner retires

[Dare2Fail]

It's official folks. Stoner just announced in the Le Mans press conference that he will retire at the end of the year. Sad to see such a talent leave the sport so young.

[bob1179]

Fair play to him, it's sad but I think he is doing what he feels is right.

I think there is a lot of background to it, he misses his wife and has new baby.

Will be interesting to see where he goes next, after all he is only in his twenties.

[3doorPete]

Sad to see. His life and all that, but seems a waste.

Have to say this just 100% reinforces my opinion of him.

[Dare2Fail]

I've always liked his honesty in this regard. He says that there have been things he liked and things he didn't in racing, but the balance has now flipped and he has lost his passion. A good time to get out I think. It must take balls to walk away from the only thing you have ever known though.

[Turn7]

Gobsmacked its that early, but unsurprised.

Does this open a door for VR46?

[y2blade]

Good lad...he could teach a few others the way to do things

He'll be missed

[Dare2Fail]

Turn7 said:

Gobsmacked its that early, but unsurprised.

Does this open a door for VR46?

Or Cal? He is currently "best of the rest.

[dibblecorse]

hey ho .... we'll never know if he could have been as good as VR over an extended tenure, as much as i diislike him I'll still give credit where its due and he is an awesome MotoGP rider ....

[MrKipling43]

dibblecorse said:

I'll still give credit where its due and he is an awesome rider ....

EFA

I get the feeling he'd be quick on absolutely everything.

Right now club racers across Australia are thinking 'for the love of god don't keep doing it for fun".

[MrKipling43]

Linky: http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/179806/1/casey_st...

[996 sps]

What a shame, fantastic rider who fought hard against any racer.

[y2blade]

This just makes him EVEN MORE SPECIAL

fking Legend, love you Casey.

[MrKipling43]

I'm a bit moxed about this one - I won't miss him, but I'll miss watching how great he was on a bike. The most outrageous body position on the grid.

But it always looked like a bit of a job for him. I'm sure that's not the case, but it was always the 'vibe' I got.

[Fleegle]

And here starts the story of the comeback kid!

We all know how much Abba were offered to make a comeback

Shall we start taking bets now on when and how much?

[996 sps]

Fleegle said:

And here starts the story of the comeback kid!

We all know how much Abba were offered to make a comeback

Shall we start taking bets now on when and how much?

That's a good point.

[krissstephen]

fair play to him for putting his family first(although he'll probably be back), guess things like Simoncelli would really put your family, life into perspective.

I don't get why everyone thinks this is now an opportunity for Rossi, he should be the one retiring.

[egor110]

I wonder if him and rossi will pop up racing cars next year?

[sprinter1050]

He's still only a nipper FFS. If he's saying he has no passion for it then probably right. I suspect that would give Dani Pedrosa one last chance next year to be World Champ or Adios for him.



Which would leave 2 seats vacant- with one to be filled by M Marcuez & the other for....... the ultimate comeback of Rossi on a Honda RCV :


Followed by, even better,? Bayliss onto the Ducati???

[Dare2Fail]

krissstephen said:

fair play to him for putting his family first(although he'll probably be back), guess things like Simoncelli would really put your family, life into perspective.

I don't get why everyone thinks this is now an opportunity for Rossi, he should be the one retiring.

Because there were no spare seats on a factory Honda for next year as it was expected that Repsol Honda would re-sign Pedrosa and Stoner. There is now a spare seat and people will automatically link any factory seat with Rossi.

[Dare2Fail]

egor110 said:

I wonder if him and rossi will pop up racing cars next year?

Rossi announced in the same press conference that he intends to stick around for at least two more years.