Casey Stoner announces retirement

MotoGP champion to retire at the end of the 2012 season

Posted: 17 May 2012
by Visordown News

Stoner ... will retire at the end of the 2012 season

ACCORDING to MotoGP pundit Neil Spalding, Casey Stoner has announced that he will be retiring from the sport at the end of this season.

The news has exploded on Twitter after Spalding revealed the announcement, from within the press conference ahead of the French GP at Le Mans. This was backed up with subsequent tweets from the official MotoGP and HRC feeds.

Stoner said: “After a long time thinking, a lot of time talking with my family and my wife, this has been coming for a couple of years now but at the end of this 2012 season I will be not racing in the 2013 Championship. I will be finishing my career at the end of this season in MotoGP, and go forward in different things in my life.

“After so many years of doing this sport which I love, and which myself and my family made so many sacrifices for, after so many years of trying to get to where we have gotten to at this point, this sport has changed a lot and it has changed to the point where I am not enjoying it. I don't have the passion for it and so at this time it's better if I retire now.

“There are a lot of things that have disappointed me, and also a lot of things I have loved about this sport, but unfortunately the balance has gone in the wrong direction. And so, basically, we won't be continuing any more. It would be nice if I could say I would stay one more year, but then where does it stop? So we decided to finish everything as we are now.”

Jorge Lorenzo said: “It’s a surprise for me, for everyone. I didn’t expect it. I heard the rumours and I thought there was a possibility, but I thought he would continue next year. Now he has told us, it’s not good news for MotoGP I think, but his decision is to live quietly with his family and we must respect his decision.”

Valentino Rossi said: “Yes, it’s a big surprise. I think it’s bad news for all the MotoGP world because at the end of the season maybe we’re losing one of the great riders and a great rival. Is negative, but it’s his own decision. For me it’s very difficult to understand where my retirement news started from, as I never spoke about my retirement. I want to race in MotoGP for the next two years for sure.”

Stoner originally rubbished the rumours, saying that he was going to continue racing until he no longer enjoyed it and not to believe the stories in the press until it comes from the horses mouth.

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Discuss this story

mobus

what the ffff?!

Posted: 17/05/2012 at 16:17

eddypeck

may as well go out on top, bet Rossi wished he's hung up his helmet a few years back.

Posted: 17/05/2012 at 16:30

Chris H 28

Young wealthy man with a beautiful wife and young daughter quits dangerous job he doesn't enjoy and gets loads of stick for?

Sounds like a no-brainer to me.

Posted: 17/05/2012 at 16:33

Josh Ayand

No no no no no, just when he was about to become a GOD!!

Posted: 17/05/2012 at 16:38

jimlindsay

I agree Chris H 28. Bloody shame but it looks like it's all going CRT in the end anyway and he always said he didn't want to do that.

It's a pity so many people gave him so much stick though. I think the guy is an absolute joy to watch. His first championship on the Ducati produced some of the most memorable footage ever of the whole Moto GP era.

Posted: 17/05/2012 at 16:39

dede irvan

why, you're still the best in the Honda,

Posted: 17/05/2012 at 16:43

Carrera_C

It will be a shame to see him go, I wonder if his decision has been influenced by him recently becoming a father???

On the up side, I'm sure this will mean some more exciting racing with a lot more intense battles for 1st place instead of Stoner constantly holding everyone else at bay.

Posted: 17/05/2012 at 16:45

smiles smiles

If this is true.....big if.....
then Rossi and Lorenzo will be very happy. Rossi moves up the list by default, seeing another competitor folding and Lorenzo will now see this or next years championship as his.
Sounds like's Stacey's motivation has already gone, announcing it so early in the season.
I bet Mick Doohan is eating his words about now.
He has a family now and I'm sure feels mortal and will be thinking of them each time he rides.
Bet Honda are over the moon........
At least MotoGP might become more interesting again.

Posted: 17/05/2012 at 16:48

mobus

It is a real shame to see somebody with his absolute ring its kneck talent quit but its understandable for the reasons Chris h 28 stated.

Personally i think its because he has permanent arm pump from being an angry little wanker

Motogp just went from bad to worse.

Posted: 17/05/2012 at 16:51

bill robinson 2

(mobus, you owe me a new screen, but i killed that damn bug, i swear)

it's hard to believe a guy who can't enjoy winning this consistently could really enjoy much of anything, but i understand going out on top.

he's a tremendous talent, but i'm pretty sure i won't miss him.

Posted: 17/05/2012 at 17:49

George's Shed

Big loss for a struggling MotoGP, this and Sky Italia making it pay per view will only strengthen WSBK

Posted: 17/05/2012 at 18:01

Angus Rectal

I would like to retire too

Posted: 17/05/2012 at 18:10

SlowInFastOut

He says he's lost the passion.

Riding a Honda for 1.5 years does that to most people.

Posted: 17/05/2012 at 18:34

ble bleah

Were declarations so there's a statement - a true man can follow his path. Just say NO. And quit. Nobody did it in last 10 years. No threats, no evasions, no mindgames just D-I-Y. I'm broken by this leaving but it made my day, my whole year in some way! In 2000 I thought I'll have sport idol from Italy but I came to the conclusion that at the end it's an Aussie. True uncomparable individual. I don't want to make anybody a lesser but with news like this one Rossi's star faded awaaaaaaay forever. Different rules: ok, CRTs: ok, bicycles: ok, whatever: ok, just gimmie finish my nothing worth records.
Others should boycott MotoGP to force Ezpeleta & Co. to think what they're doing.

Posted: 17/05/2012 at 18:49

sav man

Just checked my "GIVEAFUCKOMETER" It never moved!

Posted: 17/05/2012 at 19:40

littlemonster

He'll be back when his daughter hits the ripe old age of three. By then I should have completely forgotten about him and his winning personality.

Posted: 17/05/2012 at 19:52

mobus

Well rossi fianly has a comeback for the ambition outweights your talent comment.

Stoner: Your ambition outweights your talent.
Rossi: Your talent outweights your ambition.

p.s sorry about the bug. :)

Posted: 17/05/2012 at 20:06

Pagik

Best of luck to him in his future. And I do mean it. Personally, I'll not miss him as a "rider" in Moto GP. I'll miss the way he rode a bike though.

Can't help thinking that this whole "it's going the CRT route" and he's not happy with it is a touch of his current employers reaping what they've sowed. If HRC and the others hadn't driven the cost of a customer bike through the fucking roof CRT wouldn't have had to happen.

Truth is, none of us will know his REAL reasons.

I'm looking forwards to the rumour mill going bonkers about Rossi returning to HRC within the next few days though...

LOL

Posted: 17/05/2012 at 20:29

Steve Bailey

Can I be the first to say: Lorenzo to Honda, Rossi to Yamaha.

Posted: 17/05/2012 at 21:37

Rob M 9

Agreed Pagik. I know the guy has went through a LOT to get where he is in the sport, but it frustrates me that he's basically saying being paid to ride the crap out of a properly setup HRC RC just isn't doing it for him. He's either THE most pussywipped biker ever, or he really just wants to sit at home and go fishing?

Either way, I honestly do hope he enjoys his time, his personality might not be that perfect, but his riding was. I'm glad I've got my Silverstone tickets so I can see him riding one last time.

As for the rumor mill, well it's going to go nuts. All the top riders are out of contract at the end of this year. Marquez, short of rule changes can't go directly into the Factory Repsol team, so he's more than likely on a Gresini/LCR, but a Factory Spec - like Marco last year.

That still leaves a top seat open at HRC, you just KNOW that even if Vale and Jorge stay put, they'll put as much pressure on Yamaha/Ducati to up pay/listen to what they want.

If the Duke isn't working by the end of the year, it'd be ace to see Vale on the RC but in all honesty, even in this situation I think it's a distant fantasy.

Crazy season, really will be crazy season this year.

Posted: 18/05/2012 at 08:34

clara miss

Well, Stoner could be the only one to see the priorities in life. You guys writing lot of egoistic stuff and Stoner just clearly said that without entertaining rules even big money and fastest bike can't help. He's right. With this one he handled it, he has decided and did it finally. There can be others with multiple titles but Stoner is the best rider in XXI era so far.

Posted: 18/05/2012 at 08:52

russ atkins

I'd like to see crutchlow on the Honda - then Bradley smith can have his tech 3 seat

Good on stoner though - I'd retire at 26 if I had the chance

Posted: 18/05/2012 at 09:10

Rob M 9

How long is it going to be before Gazza turns up with Chicken, a few beers and a Fishing Rod for Casey :)

Posted: 18/05/2012 at 10:13

thoppa

Assuming he hasn't just schmoked something mind-bending and so will retract this in a week or two, I wish him well in whatever he finds tremendously underwhelming and unsatisfying to do.

Posted: 18/05/2012 at 11:04

Pagik

HAHAHAHAHA.

Great comment Thoppa, truly class!!!

Posted: 18/05/2012 at 11:30

James Mackie

AHHHHHHHRGH!!!!.... Sigh... Well all the best Casey, you were the man that stood out from the rest, fearless. No one can do what you have done on that shit duc, plus you rode what ever else was thrown at you without ever complaining.. unlike most others. Enjoy the V8 Supercars bro!

Posted: 18/05/2012 at 17:32

thoppa

Who will bet me he turns his hand to writing his memoirs, "I did it her way." ?

Posted: 18/05/2012 at 17:56

pyndman

Yep, i didn't think it was just a rumour at all. I'd probably do the same if was that loaded, but the other half of me says, what the fuck, bike riders don't do that.

Posted: 19/05/2012 at 10:35

moto-moto

Oh well, he didn't ever enjoy it did he? I won't miss the endless moaning, he's no Rossi & would be far better suited to F1 anyway. Ciao you miserable bugger....

Posted: 19/05/2012 at 11:05

Judging by the interview he gave to Darryl Beattie (Oz Channel Ten)not only does he not like the way Carmelo and his boys are running Moto GP but apparently he's fed up with the lack of respect from everybody! Who'd a thunk it?

Posted: 20/05/2012 at 14:50

Vincenzo Iaciofano

Stoner I think you have great courage and will inspire others to follow what you enjoy. Money cant buy "the best things in life which are free". Simoncini can not enjoy any money where he is now. Life is for living. Vinnychof

Posted: 21/05/2012 at 07:57

Maverick Renegade

If he stopped whining about everything, he might get some respect. Rather than leaving gracefully, he's bashing the sport. Everybody else deals with the things they don't like. Like adults they realise what he doesn't; that you can't always have everything your own way.. Good riddance..

Posted: 22/05/2012 at 15:05

sav man

My rain dance worked out well then>>it looked like stoner was holding Rossi up for a few laps,if stoner had been a gent and got out of the way sooner Lorenzo may have had to get a shuffle on Hey..

Posted: 22/05/2012 at 21:12