According to several reports, including this one, two-time MotoGP champion Casey Stoner will end his test rider relationship with the Factory Ducati MotoGP team at the end of this year. Stoner, who won 38 MotoGP races before retiring at the relatively young age of 26 in 2012, offered Ducati more outright speed than any other test rider on the planet.
Indeed, it was not uncommon for Stoner to outpace MotoGP regulars during testing despite having taken a several month break from riding a MotoGP prototype. It is understood Ducati will try to maintain a relationship with Stoner as a brand ambassador. Here at MD, we will miss the occasional glimpse of the almost superhuman skill displayed by Stoner.
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Stoner has earned the right to do whatever he wants: He’d STILL be feared if he were to return to MotoGP. I understand that it’s hard to walk away, and Ducati could scarcely turn him down as a development rider, and he wanted to still keep a hand in things.
But, without the recognition and salary he could command as a factory rider in competition, it would be hard to continue to essentially face the same risk(s) he would encounter in 10/10th’s testing without those incentives or justifications. He’s got a pile of money, his health, and a beautiful family: That’s the best incentive to walk away in one piece.
Casey has been on motorcycles from a very early age and competing in racing – particularly the early years – on dirt bikes (flat track with left and right turns) in age categories much older than him. These were formative years for him.
When the competitive drive either just ain’t there any more or is tempered by a high regard for a young family WHY or indeed HOW could exposing yourself to the risk and drama of MOTOGP remain a priority ? Casey Stoner competed on his terms at the highest level and stepped back on his terms – the expectations of others are irrelevant
You can bet the Ducati wouldn’t be as fast as it is in MotoGP if Stoner wasn’t helping in it’s development. Stoner should test ride for Yamaha.
Send ’em pictures of you fishin’ Casey.
Yeah, but Stoner is what 32? He’s still got championships left in him. Would be awesome to see how Marquez would react to another one of the greatest riders ever.
Would be really cool indeed.
I totally support the guy’s decision.
I hated work since the moment I started working at age 15. I retired sixteen years ago at 40.
Stoner has nothing to prove. Been there, done that. I’m sure he’s got a decent sized stack. Kick back, take it easy, enjoy life. That’s what you get to do when you play the game of life and win.
You’ll know that you live in the future when anyone who wants to can pull that stunt.
Myself, I actually hate not working.
If you like your job, it’s not work…
I remember Brembo engineers commenting on Stoner’s track data. They literally couldn’t believe what they were seeing at one particular test. He quit at roughly the current age of Marquez.
I wonder why you’d give up free track days???
Because work is still work. Only retirement is retirement.
That’s fine and dandy , but all I Wanted to see is 1 race then 1 more of coarse.
Maybe he will make a comeback like Troy Bayliss is in Australia recently. He (Baylis) not only was the oldest person (49) to ever take pole position in a Superbike race, but then went on to win at least the first race of the next two. Wishful thinking anyway.