Casey Stoner Retiering After 2012 Season OFFICIAL

[OZSLR]

On the V8 Supercars thing, I am going to take an optimistic view and say it will be good for Motorcycle racing in Australia and Motorsports in general and may help to attract better sponsorship. Here is my long bow!

There has been some effort by Yarrive Konsky to get exposure for Aussie Superbikes to a broader Audience by running at selected V8 Supercar meets. I know that a few of the car drivers are also bike nuts and they appear at the Island each year as spectators. So get a multiple world champion behind the wheel of a car and run bikes at the same meet and your audience potential increases. Maybe a win win for the 2 and 4 wheel brigade here? I'd certainly go to watch Stoner drive and have half a dozen supersport/superbike races thrown in.

[Nonno]

On the V8 Supercars thing, I am going to take an optimistic view and say it will be good for Motorcycle racing in Australia and Motorsports in general and may help to attract better sponsorship. Here is my long bow!

There has been some effort by Yarrive Konsky to get exposure for Aussie Superbikes to a broader Audience by running at selected V8 Supercar meets. I know that a few of the car drivers are also bike nuts and they appear at the Island each year as spectators. So get a multiple world champion behind the wheel of a car and run bikes at the same meet and your audience potential increases. Maybe a win win for the 2 and 4 wheel brigade here? I'd certainly go to watch Stoner drive and have half a dozen supersport/superbike races thrown in.

"Jesus loves a tryer" OZ! Hope you're right about the up side.

[maddad]

The showing for the superbikes is to say the least dismal I counted about 12 bikes that had ridden down there,they have the open wheel formula fords,and these guys with the bike motors in em,it's a full day talking to people they would all like to see some new blood in a race car.

[fredgreen]

After Moto gp qualifying last night I watched the replay of yesterday V8's at the Island, fuck it sends you to sleep. He will last one session at those V8's and give it away. Only good V8 race is at Bathurst due to speeds, braking and huge crashes when they get it wrong.

[2T Institute]

I dont want to get stuff going crazy on the forum, this is my opinon only .. Stoner has messed up history you will not remember a guy who could care less about racing and bitch about every track and changes that are about to come!! If he is thinking go out on top . He is thinking wrong if Rossi never wins again until his retirement he will still be the GOAT. One thing can be said he is one fast ass rider but never a true racer!!!!

Surprised it took so long to read shit like this.

Stoner might drive V8's for a year or 2 but there is more bullshit and rule changes in that than 10 seasons of motogp.

[ape66]

Surprised it took so long to read shit like this.

Stoner might drive V8's for a year or 2 but there is more bullshit and rule changes in that than 10 seasons of motogp.

Spot on Bevan

[Axecent]

Staying home with the wife and kid seems like a better idea than it is. Babies grow up, wives need space, and there will be no shortage of teams throwing money at him every winter. It may be that he'll find a suitable alternative, but riding the best bikes in the world on the best tracks in the world and doing it better than anyone else in the world is a tough act to follow.

Ain't that the fuckin' truth! The guy is just burned out. This time next year, his wife starts bitching about leaving his beer nuts out on the table with some dirty dishes and he'll start thinking "WTF did I do?"

No, really, I think this is all in character. Superb talent and bravery, but his heart isn't in it any more. He rides so close to the edge, he has to look around and wonder when he is gonna get really injured or worse.

I hope the guy the best. He has provided a shitload of entertainment for my dollar.

[ape66]

Another POV from Doohan - who is a close confidant of Stoner:

Is that Doohan talking? Or Honda doing a ventriloquist act?

[ape66]

No matter witch way it goes we all have been blessed with seeing a rider of his caliber throw a leg over a bike and make it sing "even the jacket"

[nomadak]

Superb talent and bravery, but his heart isn't in it any more. He rides so close to the edge, he has to look around and wonder when he is gonna get really injured or worse.

I hope the guy the best. He has provided a shitload of entertainment for my dollar.

Amen. As bad as Simoncelli's tragic ending was, there are fates worse than death. In addition to his talent and bravery on the track, I think he is also showing great intelligence and wisdom with his decision. Whether he regrets it down the line, will be a true test of character.

I wonder if Rainey and Doohan ponder sometimes whether they should have parked it before they were maimed for the rest of their days.
Personally, I have plates and pins in 3 of my 4 limbs from my motocross years. It hurts to get up everyday but I wouldn't have changed a thing. I am proud of my state titles & call myself blessed every day I still get to swing a leg over.

No matter witch way it goes we all have been blessed with seeing a rider of his caliber throw a leg over a bike and make it sing "even the jacket"

Amen X 2.

[Powerful Pierre]

Can't say I'm surprised, he's been weary of all the superflous shit that goes on around the 'circus' for a long, long time......he stayed with a mate of mine in Oz when he first signed for Ducati and even back then he was full of doubt, not about riding the bike but the elevation in PR/media crap that came with it.
All he has ever wanted to do is ride the bike as hard and as fast as it will go and win, thats all that turns him on about racing, he's never enjoyed any of the other stuff, the travel, the fame, nothing. And stacks of money wouldn't tempt him either, he's just not that way inclined. He said that the only thing he actually enjoys is the race on Sunday and even that isn't doing it for him now to the level it did......add to that the creeping CRT's replacing the prototypes in the next couple of years, dumbing down the challenge of the ride itself, its easy to see why its not inspiring him.
I've watched and at various times been involved in the sport for more years than I care to remember and I can honestly say he is one of the most gifted and naturally talented riders that I have ever seen......the fact that he is shy, doesn't handle the media well, or 'entertain the fans' with his wit and post race celebrations, I couldn't give a flying fuck!
I think I said a couple of weeks back that I could quite happily watch him go round a track on his own and be in awe of his raw level of skill, bravery and natural instinctive ability that puts him head & shoulders above anyone racing today.
Got to respect his decision, he's his own man, he's had enough, he wants a more normal life not more money.
Maybe a couple of years down the road the fire in his belly will re-ignite and he'll want another go, but I doubt it....although he did say to Matt Roberts that if they scrapped the CRT's and introduced a class for 750 2 strokes he could get interested......now isn't THAT a sweet dream!

[Nonno]

Can't say I'm surprised, he's been weary of all the superflous shit that goes on around the 'circus' for a long, long time......he stayed with a mate of mine in Oz when he first signed for Ducati and even back then he was full of doubt, not about riding the bike but the elevation in PR/media crap that came with it.
All he has ever wanted to do is ride the bike as hard and as fast as it will go and win, thats all that turns him on about racing, he's never enjoyed any of the other stuff, the travel, the fame, nothing. And stacks of money wouldn't tempt him either, he's just not that way inclined. He said that the only thing he actually enjoys is the race on Sunday and even that isn't doing it for him now to the level it did......add to that the creeping CRT's replacing the prototypes in the next couple of years, dumbing down the challenge of the ride itself, its easy to see why its not inspiring him.
I've watched and at various times been involved in the sport for more years than I care to remember and I can honestly say he is one of the most gifted and naturally talented riders that I have ever seen......the fact that he is shy, doesn't handle the media well, or 'entertain the fans' with his wit and post race celebrations, I couldn't give a flying fuck!
I think I said a couple of weeks back that I could quite happily watch him go round a track on his own and be in awe of his raw level of skill, bravery and natural instinctive ability that puts him head & shoulders above anyone racing today.
Got to respect his decision, he's his own man, he's had enough, he wants a more normal life not more money.
Maybe a couple of years down the road the fire in his belly will re-ignite and he'll want another go, but I doubt it....although he did say to Matt Roberts that if they scrapped the CRT's and introduced a class for 750 2 strokes he could get interested......now isn't THAT a sweet dream!

Well said.

[Axecent]

Can't say I'm surprised, he's been weary of all the superflous shit that goes on around the 'circus' for a long, long time......he stayed with a mate of mine in Oz when he first signed for Ducati and even back then he was full of doubt, not about riding the bike but the elevation in PR/media crap that came with it.
All he has ever wanted to do is ride the bike as hard and as fast as it will go and win, thats all that turns him on about racing, he's never enjoyed any of the other stuff, the travel, the fame, nothing. And stacks of money wouldn't tempt him either, he's just not that way inclined. He said that the only thing he actually enjoys is the race on Sunday and even that isn't doing it for him now to the level it did......add to that the creeping CRT's replacing the prototypes in the next couple of years, dumbing down the challenge of the ride itself, its easy to see why its not inspiring him.
I've watched and at various times been involved in the sport for more years than I care to remember and I can honestly say he is one of the most gifted and naturally talented riders that I have ever seen......the fact that he is shy, doesn't handle the media well, or 'entertain the fans' with his wit and post race celebrations, I couldn't give a flying fuck!
I think I said a couple of weeks back that I could quite happily watch him go round a track on his own and be in awe of his raw level of skill, bravery and natural instinctive ability that puts him head & shoulders above anyone racing today.
Got to respect his decision, he's his own man, he's had enough, he wants a more normal life not more money.
Maybe a couple of years down the road the fire in his belly will re-ignite and he'll want another go, but I doubt it....although he did say to Matt Roberts that if they scrapped the CRT's and introduced a class for 750 2 strokes he could get interested......now isn't THAT a sweet dream!

All sounds reasonable to me.

[ape66]

Can't say I'm surprised, he's been weary of all the superflous shit that goes on around the 'circus' for a long, long time......he stayed with a mate of mine in Oz when he first signed for Ducati and even back then he was full of doubt, not about riding the bike but the elevation in PR/media crap that came with it.
All he has ever wanted to do is ride the bike as hard and as fast as it will go and win, thats all that turns him on about racing, he's never enjoyed any of the other stuff, the travel, the fame, nothing. And stacks of money wouldn't tempt him either, he's just not that way inclined. He said that the only thing he actually enjoys is the race on Sunday and even that isn't doing it for him now to the level it did......add to that the creeping CRT's replacing the prototypes in the next couple of years, dumbing down the challenge of the ride itself, its easy to see why its not inspiring him.
I've watched and at various times been involved in the sport for more years than I care to remember and I can honestly say he is one of the most gifted and naturally talented riders that I have ever seen......the fact that he is shy, doesn't handle the media well, or 'entertain the fans' with his wit and post race celebrations, I couldn't give a flying fuck!
I think I said a couple of weeks back that I could quite happily watch him go round a track on his own and be in awe of his raw level of skill, bravery and natural instinctive ability that puts him head & shoulders above anyone racing today.
Got to respect his decision, he's his own man, he's had enough, he wants a more normal life not more money.
Maybe a couple of years down the road the fire in his belly will re-ignite and he'll want another go, but I doubt it....although he did say to Matt Roberts that if they scrapped the CRT's and introduced a class for 750 2 strokes he could get interested......now isn't THAT a sweet dream!

[Brinks_2]