Valentino Rossi,Monster Energy Hats with whom Stoner has experienced a strained relationship due to the pair’s increasingly intense rivalry, was also taken aback by the news.
“Yes, it’s a big surprise,” said the Italian. “I think it’s bad news for all the MotoGP world because at the end of the season Monster Energy Hats maybe we’re losing one of the great riders and a great rival. It is negative [for the sport], but it’s his own decision.”
A slice of positive news Monster Energy Hats for Rossi fans then followed, as the 33-year-old dispelled rumours of his own retirement at the end of the current campaign which had also materialised in recent Monster Energy Hats weeks.
“For me it’s very difficult to understand where my Monster Energy Hats retirement news started from, as I never spoke about my retirement,” he said. “I want to race in MotoGP for the next two years for sure.”
Monster Energy Hats athlete Stoner, who won the 2007 title with Ducati and the 2011 crown with Honda, will now aim to sign off from his seventh season at the top level of the sport with a third title. He currently heads the MotoGP standings by a single point ahead of 2010 Champion Lorenzo, and won at the Le Mans track last year on his way to the Monster Energy Hats title.
“There are a lot of things that have disappointed me,Monster Energy Hats 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, Monster Energy Hats but then where does it stop? So we decided to finish everything as we are now.”
Jorge Lorenzo, from whom Stoner took the title last year, admitted his shock at the Australian’s announcement.