Topic: stoner announces retirement

[simon#42]

well at the end of the season and at the grand old age of 26 casey is going to walk away from racing .

[turboguzzi]

bet you are under shock.... i know i am   

and if i was velentino or lorenzo now, i would feel like an idiot. seemingly, thats how their face read during the press conference, sort of : what's the point now? ( or for the next 2-3 years..)
oddest thing i've seen in motorsport since the days i am following it.

[curemode2002]

Really??? He is a kid I am looking to get into motorcycle racing not out and I am a bit older than him. Okay a lot older.

[simon#42]

yes tg i am , i suspect having just become a father has something to do with it .
i doubt he is even at his peak yet , his decision though and i wish him well for the future in whatever he does .

[bwaller]

Stranger things have happened, but wow.

I told TG he likely wants to race vintage in Italy....!

[spiritof67]

With the rate of compensation he has enjoyed over the last half-decade being as much as 50 average Joes' per annum, it isn't as if he actually needs more money. And what exactly is the challenge for him, short of trying to win on a Yamaha (just as a "triple crown") or one of those WSB-spec bikes that the organizers are telling us are the "future" of MotoGP? I have no more facts than anyone else, but perhaps he's engineering an early way out of a series on its way to where IndyCar went in the US. Or trying to get out while being MotoGP Champion still means something.

He has already shown that his main "rival" can't successfully ride "his" bike to the front, a total embarassment to The Proctologist or was that Formerly The Doctor? What else is left?

Spirit

[mick7504]

yes tg i am , i suspect having just become a father has something to do with it .i doubt he is even at his peak yet , his decision though and i wish him well for the future in whatever he does .

I think that this was possibly first and foremost in his decision Simon.
Family first and good luck to him.

[Steve_K]

Watching Stoner two wheel drift his bike in a corner always made me whimper.  So above far above my  skill level.  I know other riders do it, but he reminds me of the 500 riders.  I miss the 500s and I will miss Stoner!
Steve

[bear]

What a shame.
But if he can't commit himself 100% it's the smart thing to do.
He's been talking about touring car racing back here in Ozz and has tested, had talks with a couple of teams.
I suspect it's a dissision with family in mind.

The sad thing for me is that road racing here in Australia is at it's lowest ebb for many years and I can't see any stand out riders coming through the ranks to take his place.
Sadly it could be quite awhile before we see an Ozzy at the top of the GP ladder after this season has finish.

When an historic race meeting can pull the largest crowd in Australia after our GP and World Super Bike rounds things are obviously awry at a nation level in road racing circles.

Cheers,
Brian

[bwaller]

Unfortunately Brian, Australia's not alone. I thought you've done well to provide the world with top notch exciting riders.

I'm sure the death of Simoncelli had an effect on all the young families too. Here's hoping he has a great season.

[turboguzzi]

Brian, I still think there's something in the water down there....

have a look at nationalities in international racing and its still pretty amazing how many Aussies are out there, considering you are only 20 million or so.

IMHO, if there's a factor here then i think its having your father deciding for you at 14 yrs old that you are going to become a champ and moving you to another continent to pursue that dream when you still dont know much about life....  mission acomplished, you go back home

[faux fiddy]

Brian, I still think there's something in the water down there....

have a look at nationalities in international racing and its still pretty amazing how many Aussies are out there, considering you are only 20 million or so.

http://www.cmraracing.com/pdf/2009/Newsletters/mar_09_dialup.pdf

Check out the Tejas  club, CMRA.  Colin Edwards and now other riders comming up. Dustin Dominguez, Danny Eslick, Dane Wesby,  Hallet lap times have decreased a whole bunch in the last few years because of the young guys.  They will be there to fill some boots.

Races at Hallet this Weekend, BTW.

[bear]

Brian, I still think there's something in the water down there....

have a look at nationalities in international racing and its still pretty amazing how many Aussies are out there, considering you are only 20 million or so.

IMHO, if there's a factor here then i think its having your father deciding for you at 14 yrs old that you are going to become a champ and moving you to another continent to pursue that dream when you still dont know much about life....  mission acomplished, you go back home

Funny you should mention that.
One Wayne Gardner is over there in Italy at the moment.
He has plucked his son of the dirt tracks of Australia and is dragging him around Europe chasing a junior RR title.

Cheers,
Brian

[voxonda]

Just have respect for his decision, there is (much) more to life than racing motorcycles. But have just as much (if not more) for deciding to stay in motorracing like his "main rival". Who won 9 titles and in every class he rode in.
Just a shame that we cant enjoy another great talent next year.

[faux fiddy]

Just have respect for his decision

Some people are kind of disappointed,  or how do you say it..pissed.

[lordmoonpie]

yes tg i am , i suspect having just become a father has something to do with it .
i doubt he is even at his peak yet , his decision though and i wish him well for the future in whatever he does .

That's exactly it Simon he wants to spend time with his new daughter and I have big respect for him to do that. He's quitting at the top, he's one of those rare people in history who made it as world champ in the top class, he's worth a fortune and he's got the best possible thing to focus on in the world, a little daughter.
Racing is a very selfish thing so his decision to quit when his potential is still unfolding is huge. I've never liked him personally, he moans too much for my liking but his racing talent will leave a massive hole in a series that can ill afford it and I'll miss his brilliance on two wheels.  With the excitement of Marco sadly gone, we can only hope that Marquez, Vinales and other exciting young talents move up to MotoGP quick, before it withers on the vine...

[simon#42]

at 26 hes got along time left to play with his kids , the last aussie bike champ to retire at the top of his game was bored out of his mind six months latter and keeps threatening a come back ..... and hes in his 40's .
to me its a criminal waste of talent but ever since i first met him in the british 125 championship he has never really looked like he is enjoying himself . in 30 years time he may just look back and wonder just how good he could have been .

aussie racing is along way from dead , a couple of good youngsters in the redbull rookies one in the moto3 championship and bloody loads in the british championship .

[Steve_K]

Kenny Roberts has said that a top level racer has only about 10 years at the top level.  Riding those bike sucks the life out of you.  Remember Doohan at the end of his career?  He was turning grey.  This level is tough and many riders retire with body damage that could cause problems later on. 
The best to Soner!!
Steve

[bear]

aussie racing is along way from dead , a couple of good youngsters in the redbull rookies one in the moto3 championship and bloody loads in the british championship .

That's my point.
They are cutting their teeth and learning their skills in the hard school of Aussie Dirt Track Racing.
Doing one season on the tare, then  heading straight for Europe.
Meanwhile Aussie road racing is withering on the vine.

Cheers,
Brian

[mick7504]

aussie racing is along way from dead , a couple of good youngsters in the redbull rookies one in the moto3 championship and bloody loads in the british championship .

That's my point.
They are cutting their teeth and learning their skills in the hard school of Aussie Dirt Track Racing.
Doing one season on the tare, then  heading straight for Europe.
Meanwhile Aussie road racing is withering on the vine.

Cheers,
Brian

I guess that they're chasing the high end competition and ultimately the big bucks Bear.
I can see where your coming from mate, and I whole heartedly agree with you.

The mechanical trade is on it's arse trying to get and keep good fellas when they can make a bloody good quid working in the mines.

Money's a magnet, and while these blokes are young and fit and keen and can kick butt with what they do, that's where they're gonna go, regardless of they're skills.
In the meantime, us old dogs will just keep keeepin' on.   

 

[Terry in Australia]

As has been said before, he's 26, he's got more money than most of us can imagine, he's got a beautiful wife and a brand new baby, and he's already achieved his place in Motorcycling history.

Yeah, sure, if he was addicted to the fame and playboy lifestyle like some other racers out there (Bear, for instance.....) he could go on to winning more MotoGP world championships, but unlike many of his predecessors, he's still intact physically, and still has his health.

The rumour is that he's swapping two wheels for four and we'll see him next year in the Aussie V8 Supercar series. Not anywhere near the same money or international stardom, but if that's what he wants to do, then more power to him. Cheers, Terry.

[Retro Rocket]

Yeah, sure, if he was addicted to the fame and playboy lifestyle like some other racers out there (Bear, for instance.....)

Love it....

[simon#42]

aussie racing is along way from dead , a couple of good youngsters in the redbull rookies one in the moto3 championship and bloody loads in the british championship .

That's my point.
They are cutting their teeth and learning their skills in the hard school of Aussie Dirt Track Racing.
Doing one season on the tare, then  heading straight for Europe.
Meanwhile Aussie road racing is withering on the vine.

Cheers,
Brian

its never been much different bear , gardner and bayliss both came to the british championship , corser went to the ama and doohan went to the Japanese championship to finish off their apprenticeships
british superbike has at least a dozen australian riders in all classes [ of all different ages ]  oddly the best young british talent goes straight to the spanish championship

if you want to see where the next stoner is coming from have a look at arthur sissis from adelaide , runner up in last years red bull rookies and a real talent [ not quite got used to a moto 3 bike yet but will do soon ]

[MRieck]

yes tg i am , i suspect having just become a father has something to do with it .
i doubt he is even at his peak yet , his decision though and i wish him well for the future in whatever he does .

I agree 100% Simon

[petercb750]

I heard that Stoner recently did 30 laps in a V8 Supercar and was getting to within 1 sec of the championsip leader's times......perhaps he has real potential there.

He was also spotted looking at real estate on the East Coast of Oz a couple of months ago.