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Casey Stoner
BSM: About your retirement – you’ve said you’re unhappy with the direction that MotoGP is headed. If it returns to a format you’re happy with, would you return?
Casey Stoner: Never say never, but this isn’t something I’m looking for. I think it would take a severe change for me to come back into this championship, perhaps 750cc two-stroke bikes or something! At the moment, it’s not something I’m considering.
BSM: How much are you looking forward to life without MotoGP?
CS: It’s not so much life without MotoGP, as I’m sure I’ll miss riding the bikes and will certainly miss a lot of friends and colleagues I’ve made in the sport over the years. There is a very big part of it I won’t miss, the PR and media side of things. For me this has taken over the sport and taken over the enjoyment. It’s become more about this and less about racing and that’s a very sad situation.
BSM: What’s been your favourite race so far? And for what reasons?
CS: There have been a few races that stand out in my career, but I’d have to say that Phillip Island last year is still my favourite. Not just the race itself but the whole weekend, celebrating my fifth win in a row at my home circuit and clinching the championship title there with Honda on my 26th birthday was an incredible series of events to experience. I’m sure not many other people will ever be able to encounter such a day!
BSM: Your stint at Honda has been good...
CS: For sure the Phillip Island race and a few other races last year, such as Laguna Seca – that was pretty special also. Then after the championship I flew to Japan to visit HRC with all my crew which was something I’ll never forget. It was great to see all the Honda people who worked so hard last season to help give me a bike to challenge for the Championship with. It was great to see how much that win meant to them all.
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