When the Spanish publication Solo Moto announced Casey Stoner, just 26 years old, might retire at the end of the 2012 Moto GP championship series, Stoner was quick to discount the rumor, but did not deny it (even though several other Internet publications quickly reported his statement as a denial, it was clearly a non-denial). In the pre-race press conference for the Le Mans round this weekend, Stoner confirmed that he will in fact leave Moto GP at the end of this season, reading the following statement to the assembled media, while sitting next to his top competitors including Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo and Cal Crutchlow:
“Afternoon everyone.â€
“Basically, this has come after a long time of thinking, a lot of time talking with my family and my wife  … More