Everyone will have to apologize to SoloMoto and Sportmediaset, because during today’s MotoGP pre-race conference at Le Mans, Casey Stoner made the shock announcement that he’ll be retiring from the sport at the end of this season.
At Estoril, just two weeks ago Casey Stoner ripped into the press denying speculation from the Spanish and Italian media that he would retire at the end of 2012, saying, “Until you hear it out of my mouth then don’t believe anything you read,” but he did repeat that he’ll continue as long as he enjoys it, but his retirement will come in a not to distant future, and that not to distant future is now sadly just six months away.
The announcement 26-year old two-time World Champion has shocked the entire racing world, rivals and fans leaving everyone flabbergasted, and we might add is a very sad day for MotoGP racing, as we are losing one hell of a rider.
Here’s what Stoner said to the press, also adding that his decision to retire has nothing to do with the birth of his daughter and that he made his final decision to stop racing in the last week.
“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.
”
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