RE: PH2: Casey Stoner retires
Friday 18th May 2012
Reigning MotoGP champion Casey Stoner shocked race fans yesterday by announcing he will retire from the sport at the age of just 26. The move was completely unexpected as Stoner had fiercely denied rumours he would quit just weeks earlier, so what brought about his change of heart?
"This sport has changed a lot and it has changed to the point where I am not enjoying it," said Stoner to a stunned press conference. "I don't have the passion for it and so at this time it is better if I retire. There are a lot of things that have disappointed me, and also a lot of things that I have loved about this sport, but unfortunately the balance has gone in the wrong direction. There are many, many different reasons but basically it's me losing my passion for the racing and my enjoyment for the sport.
While he certainly lacks the flair that Rossi brings to the paddock, Stoner's riding is at times completely unbelievable. One of the most gifted two-wheeled racers on the planet, if not the most gifted, watching a slow motion of Stoner wrestling the Honda around a corner is a master class in machine control. With him gone we will be left with Pedrosa and Lorenzo standing head and shoulders above the rest of the rapidly depleted MotoGP field with only the chance of Cal Crutchlow and Marc Marquez, who is hotly tipped to replace Stoner in the Repsol team, threatening their superiority.
PH2: Casey Stoner retires
Moto GP champ stuns bike race fans with sudden retirement decision
An amazingly talented rider, and one who often doesn't receive the praise he deserves from fans due to his less than characterful nature, Stoner has always said he isn't racing to beat records. Often abrupt when interviewed, Stoner prefers to let his riding do the talking and, with two MotoGP titles under his belt, (one for Ducati remember, something that Rossi looks unlikely to repeat) his class is undeniable - which is part of the cause for his retirement.
"Sure, I'm going to enjoy this year but I'm sure if I continue it would be a mistake. There are many things I'd like to do with my life. I don't want to keep racing bikes to the point where I lose my passion for motorcycles. I love bikes, they've been my whole life, and if I keep doing this I'm afraid I'll completely lose my passion. Maybe I'll still have some involvement in the sport, if I can find the energy, to maybe help some young riders, things like that."
Stoner was famously booed by British fans when he won at Donington a few years back and with the change to 1000cc as well as heath issues and the birth of his first child, it looks like the Australian has simply had enough. Will he be missed?
The sight of Stoner winning a race by several seconds will not be missed, but one of the most talented riders of his generation saying he doesn't enjoy riding in the premier class and that at 26 years old he is walking away is a very sad, and worrying, development for MotoGP.
Discussion
offendi said:
grow up
Maybe I should expand.An awful lot of people have worked bloody hard and put in a lot of their cash to get him where he is today. It's an absolute kick in the teeth for all those people for him to just chuck in the towel because he's bored of being the quickest guy on two wheels and earning heaps of cash doing it.
Blackpuddin said:
I think they've probably got their money back OK. He's entitled to leave any time he wants. He's got a family and a recurring medical problem which must be impacting on his ability to deliver what he knows he's capable of. That's no good for anyone at the top of their sport. I don't blame him for this decision.
It really isn't so much the money as the time and energy. My feeling is that if people are good enough to pay for you to get up on the stage, you'd better put on a good show. Maybe that's unfair, and of course he can do what he likes, but I can call him ungrateful too, if I like.As for the medical condition - I'm not sure whether you're referring to the arm pump or that other mystery condition that affected him a couple of seasons. If its the arm pump, then I know first hand that most racers from superstock 600 class upwards will suffer from it to a greater or lesser degree at some point in their career - the difference with Casey is that you sure as hell know about it, while most riders accept as a fact of life that they will be carrying it and probably other debilitating injuries for most of their career - something that they share with many other top sportspeople.
If it's that mystery condition, well, I had some good intelligence on what was behind that which I believe myself, but wouldn't want to repeat it as it may not be true and is certainly confidential.
I think it's sad too, and that he is a truly great rider but, as I think has been said of the likes of Schumacher, he'll always struggle to be thought of as a great champion, because he's not a great person.
rhinochopig said:
Did you meet him at or away from the circuit? I think he's very different at the circuit as he's a very focussed individual.
Oh very definitely at. Had lots of other riders to compare him t over time as well.Look, maybe I am being harsh, and of course I don't know him well, much less own him, so he can do what he likes. But my OP was the same first-reaction, unbridled honesty that some on here would defend him for. I won't miss him - there are undoubtedly other riders coming through who deserve a crack at the top level. Maybe he'll come back, maybe he'll go and work for ABC between fishing trips. I hope it makes him happy, 'cos he's just never seemed that way racing bikes.
Condi said:
Do you watch the same programs as the rest of us? MS is a great person, IMO, and a fantastic talent on the grid.
Off topic, but this is certainly utter balls. He's been punished on several occasions for trying to drive people off the road (Villeneuve, Barrichello), cheating at qualifying in Monaco and, just last weekend, running into the back of someone and then blaming the other guy. That doesn't include the stuff he got away with, like taking out Hill in Australia, knowingly running an illegal launch control system back at Benetton and many other pieces of dubious conduct that I can't immediately recall. He undoubtedly was a great driver, but he never was, and still isn't, a great person.Actually, I take it all back about Casey - compared to MS he's a positive saint. Being surly and "IMO" a little ungrateful is nothing compared to being a nasty, conniving, cheating, stuck up and - above all - dangerous person.
Thank's Condi - you genuinely have given me some perspective here, and I'm happy to retract my original comment about Mr Stoner.
krissstephen said:
He's lactose intollerant, he said it in the interview.
"he's not a nice person"? Really, because my brothers met him several times at Sepang and he's always been forthcoming to fans.
just a guess, do you have a yellow46 on the back of your car by any chance?
Hardly, but both you and jetpilot seem to have decided that I'm a Rossi fan, despite the fact that I've not even mentioned his name. "he's not a nice person"? Really, because my brothers met him several times at Sepang and he's always been forthcoming to fans.
just a guess, do you have a yellow46 on the back of your car by any chance?
We could bicker on all night here about who's personal experiences of the man are more valid. All I can say is that the ones I've had and those of friends have been negative - others on here have obviously had contrary experiences. I'm prepared to accept that I've been a little harsh earlier in this thread, but it's based on honest, personal experience. Likewise I have my reasons for doubting the whole lactose intolerance thing is an ongoing issue (or, in fact, ever was), though obviously I have no proof.
Maybe we shouldn't expect more from sportspeople than performing at their sport, but I think we all do, to some extent. It's just always felt like he sees his job as a chore and doesn't want to be there - to which a natural reaction would be "well feck off then". Maybe it has always been a chore for him? This sudden departure would seem to suggest its a possibility.
Like I say, I've been harsh, and his sins are by no means the greatest in contrast to his undoubted riding ability. I've just found him (and Pedrosa, for that matter) very hard to like.
peteO said:
what a load of absolute b0ll0cks!..
i absolutely despise people who talk bull $hit over the internet.
unless you are a v close friend or family member how on earth can you know whats up with the guy?.. you are in the same position as every other memeber of the public being drip fed what the persons employer wants us to know!..
And as for being a nice person, same as above. if your just going off what you've read/watched/heard then your more of a f
king idiot than your making youself out to be!
Despise me all you like. As I have now said about five times, I've had multiple encounters with the guy, and am particularly close and involved with this world. Huge though my desire is to declare the nature of the interest in order to slap you down, other considerations are more important. i absolutely despise people who talk bull $hit over the internet.
unless you are a v close friend or family member how on earth can you know whats up with the guy?.. you are in the same position as every other memeber of the public being drip fed what the persons employer wants us to know!..
And as for being a nice person, same as above. if your just going off what you've read/watched/heard then your more of a f
king idiot than your making youself out to be!What I can say is this; lactose intolerance, in general, is pretty simple to control by means of avoiding dairy products. Once you've cut out the milk and cheese, it doesn't really have an ongoing effect on your health. This, along with some other background knowledge, causes me to doubt this official line (that you accuse me of toeing) that he's still suffering from it. Can I prove my doubts? No, and certainly not on here where at best it'll come down to my word against yours - besides, it's his right to keep these things private if he wants to. But I would make the point that it's not me who's swallowing the media and employer lines on this.
Rawwr said:
Not at all personal. I said 'MAYBE' 'HE' 'THINKS' you're a c*nt.
I can't speak for him.
You can't speak for yourself either - you said "Maybe he just think". I can't speak for him.
Anyway. I've changed my mind. He's a f
king saint. All hail Casey, God of riding and all round top bloke, who all here know better than I do, for I am not worthy. I prostrate myself against the greater knowledge and insight of all on this thread. Thankyou, PH warriors, for setting me on the TRUE PATH.Amen.
CAPP0 said:
I can't really BA to descend into the bhfest that BB routinely becomes these days, but I'll just point out that in terms of how long I've been watching (and understanding), well, let's just say that there's a strong probability that my offspring are older than many of the posters on here.
My point was/is, racing or quali, it's always been thus. What the flying fk is the point of saying you could go faster if nobody got in your way? Because there were always other riders on the track during quali, and there always will be. So, it's a pathetic, pointless excuse.
How about "I could have gone faster if my engine was more powerful"? How about "I could have posted a shorter time if those corners weren't on the circuit"? How about "I could have gone faster if I ignored the FIM rules"?
And one last, OT, point: this board is called biker "banter". not biker "sit behind your cornflakes and post argumentative st" I would, er, give up posting if you cant distinguish the difference between the two......
Don't worry CAPP0, it's just that it's currently illegal to criticize St Casey on here. I'm sure it'll all die down by next season. Maybe we could consider a sticky thread on this forum as a guide as to what's currently allowed?hfest that BB routinely becomes these days, but I'll just point out that in terms of how long I've been watching (and understanding), well, let's just say that there's a strong probability that my offspring are older than many of the posters on here.My point was/is, racing or quali, it's always been thus. What the flying f
k is the point of saying you could go faster if nobody got in your way? Because there were always other riders on the track during quali, and there always will be. So, it's a pathetic, pointless excuse.How about "I could have gone faster if my engine was more powerful"? How about "I could have posted a shorter time if those corners weren't on the circuit"? How about "I could have gone faster if I ignored the FIM rules"?
And one last, OT, point: this board is called biker "banter". not biker "sit behind your cornflakes and post argumentative s
t" I would, er, give up posting if you cant distinguish the difference between the two......Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff