Casey Stoner cannot imagine even thinking about MotoGP comeback
Casey Stoner cannot imagine even considering a MotoGP comeback after he retires from the sport following next weekend's Valencia Grand Prix
The 2007 and '11 world champion stunned MotoGP by announcing in May that this would be his final season.
His hopes of winning the title in his swansong year were then dashed by an ankle injury, but he returned to the top step of the podium with an emphatic home victory in Australia last weekend.
Asked if he felt his forthcoming retirement would be permanent or if he might emulate the likes of Formula 1's Michael Schumacher by returning following a break, Stoner was adamant that his MotoGP story would be over after Valencia.
"The sport would have to take dramatic changes for me to even consider coming back," he said.
"Of course I can never say never, but I've got no thoughts whatsoever at this time of ever even thinking about coming back."
Stoner dismissed any suggestion that his Phillip Island success might prompt a change of heart, though he admitted that he could imagine missing the racing in 2013.
"I'm pretty established on where I'm going. I'm not changing my mind every couple of minutes," he said.
"There are definitely some aspects of my racing that I'm going to miss for sure.
"I have so much respect for Dani [Pedrosa] and Jorge [Lorenzo] especially. I've been racing them for my whole career, we've been challenging each other and fighting with each other for so many years.
"There will definitely be something missing inside. But I'll still get to watch them and I'll definitely come to some grands prix to enjoy it."
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