F1 Fanatic

Casey Stoner has announced he will retire from Moto GP at the end of the season:

Casey Stoner announces his retirement at the end of the 2012 MotoGP season at Le Mans

— MotoGP™ (@MotoGP) May 17, 2012

The reigning champion and 2007 champion is leading the series at the moment.

WHAT?!?! Wow. No wonder Honda is pushing so hard to scrap the rookie rule – they want Marquez to replace Stoner.

@David-A He’s a father and a double world champion. He might even take a third this year. He’s probably achieved everything he ever wanted to in racing and has enough money to retire and spend the rest of his life with his family, so that’s probably what he’s going to do.

No! He’s the only reason I watch MotoGP! I hope he can bow out on a high!

Even though I don’t like him, it is a shame to hear about this. At least it is one less competitor for Pedrosa, I’ve been waiting ages to see him win a world championship.

I’ll be sad to see him go, as @the_pretender says, he has a brilliant riding style, he’s a bit like the Hamilton of motoGP (great on track, not so great in a press conference). He has been struggling with health problems so it’s not that big of a shock, I guess Simoncelli’s death last year and his new baby made him rethink his career too.

That’s a real pity. Stoner undoubtedly is a great talent, he could achieve much more in the future if he stays.
However, I realise MotoGP isn’t a sport for “old” like F1 is, and it’s also much more dangerous. Better quit while still physically fine rather than risking your life every weekend, particularly if you have no longer the passion.
To be honest I don’t know how someone so young can lose the passion for what he’s been doing all life, right when he reached the pinnacle of the two-wheels motorsport and when he was achieving such great success.
This however looks like a mature decision by a husband and a father. After all, Gilles Villeneuve was the same but he was stripped of his future life in his family by being in Formula 1. Stoner probably realised his family is more important than racing and that the risk was too high to take, and I admire him for that.

?Has he been secretly testing an F1 car? ;)