Stoner Retiring !

[woof]

I know it's probably being discussed somewhere on a bike forum but it's still big motorsport news.

Stoner announces retirement at end of 2012

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2012/Casey+retiremen...

Reports are that Rossi was seen high tailing it to the Honda motorhome, with a pen in hand.


Looks like Stoner is considering Aussie V8's - which would be a popular choice
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/99659

Edited by woof on Friday 18th May 09:48

[P-Jay]

There's no denying the boy can ride, the only guy to really tame the big red turd, but I for one won't missing 'Stoner the Moaner'.

Pssst, Honda, sign up Cal!

[Vocal Minority]

It does potentially start up the merry-go-round in a big way.

Lorenzo is out of contract...

The logical step would be Marquez, but with Pedrosa's ability to mount a challenge over the length of a season a wee question mark, it would be awful tempting to go with Lorenzo.

It is entirely conceivable to see Cal go to Yamaha to replace Spies unless the American extracts the digit, even more so if Lorenzo were to go.

Could all get interesting.

Or they do the obvious thing, employ Marquez, and nothing changes

[MrKipling43]

Vocal Minority said:

Or they do the obvious thing, employ Marquez, and nothing changes

I'm not sure they'll take Marquez yet. I think he needs another year.

My reckoning is Rossi on a year contract alongside Pedrosa, Burgess to retire, Pedrosa told 'it's going to be you or Rossi out the door in 2014, it's up to you who goes.'

Also, as I said on BB - I'll miss his riding, but I won't miss him.

[mattikake]

This devalues motogp. Always the case if the clear best talent leaves early. Interesting political statement though...

[woof]

I don't think it's politics - I just think he's not enjoying it and he's got a young family.

[MissChief]

Vocal Minority said:

It does potentially start up the merry-go-round in a big way.

Lorenzo is out of contract...

The logical step would be Marquez, but with Pedrosa's ability to mount a challenge over the length of a season a wee question mark, it would be awful tempting to go with Lorenzo.

It is entirely conceivable to see Cal go to Yamaha to replace Spies unless the American extracts the digit, even more so if Lorenzo were to go.

Could all get interesting.

Or they do the obvious thing, employ Marquez, and nothing changes

But Marquez cannot go to Repsol Honda thanks to the Rookie rule. No new rider may join a works team in their first season in MotoGP. That's why Spies had to go to Tech 3 and Dovi spent a season at Gresini before moving to Honda. There's nothing to stop Marquez joining Gresini with a works bike though, much like Sic had.

[Vocal Minority]

MissChief said:

But Marquez cannot go to Repsol Honda thanks to the Rookie rule. No new rider may join a works team in their first season in MotoGP. That's why Spies had to go to Tech 3 and Dovi spent a season at Gresini before moving to Honda. There's nothing to stop Marquez joining Gresini with a works bike though, much like Sic had.

I have never heard of that. Quite a silly rule IMHO, but fair enough.

[P-Jay]

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

For us non Biker types....


What is the underlying message in the " I don't like the way the sport is going" ?

Thanks

The only major thing I can think of is the introduction of CRT bikes but I can't see this having much of a bearing on Casey, It should make the the playing field more level in 2, 3 even 4 years time which he wouldn't like anymore than any of the other factory riders.

I don't think there are any more rounds this year, perhaps his team is asking for more commitment to winter training.

But he's a delicate flower, someone, somewhere might have said something and he's thrown his toys out.

[P-Jay]

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

P-Jay said:

The only major thing I can think of is the introduction of CRT bikes but I can't see this having much of a bearing on Casey, It should make the the playing field more level in 2, 3 even 4 years time which he wouldn't like anymore than any of the other factory riders.

I don't think there are any more rounds this year, perhaps his team is asking for more commitment to winter training.

But he's a delicate flower, someone, somewhere might have said something and he's thrown his toys out.

off to google wtf a CRT bike is

Am pretty sure it is not to do with Big ol TV' sets......

CRT bikes are prototype frames with tuned roadbike engines and less fancy electronics and stuff - 'cheap' MotoGP bikes basically to pad out a shrinking grid based on the same principles as Moto2 bikes (Moto2 bikes are prototype frames, only with a ‘standard’ 1-make tuned CBR600 engine).

The plan is to restrict the MotoGP regs slowly over the next couple of years so eventually the CRT bikes and MotoGP bikes will be all the same and we'll have cheaper, closer racing rather than 4 "Aliens" on the 2 best Factory bikes racing and everyone else racing for 5th whilst the constructors look at the stupid money bills for racing, and increasing popularity of WSBKs and think "is there any point in spending $x million a year racing MotoGP to have our bikes not look as good as Honda and Yamaha.

I think everyone has been surprised by how close they've been. It's not been a strict case of the 6 factory bikes, followed by the 10 or so leased factory followed by all the CRT lot.

I wouldn't been surprised if there's not a couple of 'Factory CRT' bikes next year

[Vocal Minority]

Edited due to the post above mine making it totally obsolete

Edited by Vocal Minority on Friday 18th May 16:40

[MrKipling43]

P-Jay said:

CRT bikes are 'prototype' frames with tuned roadbike engines and less fancy electronics and stuff

EFA

[P-Jay]

MrKipling43 said:

P-Jay said:

CRT bikes are 'prototype' frames with tuned roadbike engines and less fancy electronics and stuff

EFA

I'm a little thick - are they not prototypes then?

[Vocal Minority]

not entirely.

The full MotoGP bikes are completely one off.

[Allyc85]

Just tarted up World Superbikes IMO...

[hairyben]

Spooky, I was just saying to the other half (an aussie) about 2 days before the announcement casey's the type who'll probably quit while he's at the top, go back to the farm and never look back, and it probably won't be too far in the future.

While I don't begrudge him his success he's never struck me as someone who lives and breaths the bikes like many of the others, he's just naturally gifted so just does what he's does well. The fact he never cared for the lifestyle is well documented... wish him all the best.

[Dare2Fail]

Vocal Minority said:

MissChief said:

But Marquez cannot go to Repsol Honda thanks to the Rookie rule. No new rider may join a works team in their first season in MotoGP. That's why Spies had to go to Tech 3 and Dovi spent a season at Gresini before moving to Honda. There's nothing to stop Marquez joining Gresini with a works bike though, much like Sic had.

I have never heard of that. Quite a silly rule IMHO, but fair enough.

Not really. The point of the rule is to help give some financial support to the smaller privateer teams that have been struggling to stay afloat for years now. It ensures that any big name joining the championship has to take their big sponsor money to one of the smaller teams for at least a year. It is one of the few rule changes that makes a lot of sense.

[Alfanatic]

hairyben said:

Spooky, I was just saying to the other half (an aussie) about 2 days before the announcement casey's the type who'll probably quit while he's at the top, go back to the farm and never look back, and it probably won't be too far in the future.

While I don't begrudge him his success he's never struck me as someone who lives and breaths the bikes like many of the others, he's just naturally gifted so just does what he's does well. The fact he never cared for the lifestyle is well documented... wish him all the best.

So is Stoner a bit like motoGP's Kimi then?

[Killer2005]

Alfanatic said:

hairyben said:

Spooky, I was just saying to the other half (an aussie) about 2 days before the announcement casey's the type who'll probably quit while he's at the top, go back to the farm and never look back, and it probably won't be too far in the future.

While I don't begrudge him his success he's never struck me as someone who lives and breaths the bikes like many of the others, he's just naturally gifted so just does what he's does well. The fact he never cared for the lifestyle is well documented... wish him all the best.

So is Stoner a bit like motoGP's Kimi then?

Pretty much. A lot of people have a pop at him as he's not always entirely a happy camper, but as I see it, he turns up on a weekend generally rides the wheels of the his bike then goes home again.

[LocoBlade]

P-Jay said:

I wouldn't been surprised if there's not a couple of 'Factory CRT' bikes next year

Isn't one of the stipulations of CRT that there's no factory involvement, all the manufacturers can do is sell an engine and/or chassis, they can't run a team themselves AFAIK.