Casey Stoner was born in Southport QLD and began racing when he was four years old and has since won 41 dirt and long track championships and 70 state titles. Casey and his family went to Spain and the United Kingdom when he was 14, and the Australian earned his stripes in the Spanish and British Superbike classifications.
A Big Move
Stoner debuted in the 250cc class when he was 16 years old. This was unusual because most of the young riders started in the 125cc class. The young Australian struggled and spent most of the season recovering from injuries. Casey used QLD Travel to move overseas and advance his career.
Learning on a 125cc
Stoner took a step back to move forward, opting for the 125cc class, MotoGP’s traditional development series. He won his first race on an Aprilia and scored three second-place finishes.
Back to 250cc
Stoner returned to the 250cc class, teaming up with Aprilia and Luccio Cecchinello again. He finished second to future MotoGP foe Dani Pedrosa, almost claiming the world title.
Fast but a Crasher
Stoner began his MotoGP career with Honda but found adjusting to the larger bikes. His speed was impressive, but he struggled to finish races.
Casey Shocks the World
With Stoner landing a ride with Ducati for the 2007 season, not much was expected. However, he began the season with a victory in Qatar, which drew the entire world’s attention. The Australian would win the world championship with ten victories, including three of the first four.
The Move to Honda
Health concerns, as well as an increasingly unreliable bike, soured his relationship with Ducati. As a result, he joined the Repsol Honda Team in 2011 and won his first race on his brand new bike.
World Champion Again
Stoner would win the world title in his debut year on a Repsol Honda, just like he did in his first year on a Ducati. Stoner challenged the critics who said his Ducati championship was entirely due to a better bike, winning nine races, and the championship with comfort.
Hanging up the Gloves
Stoner announced his retirement from the sport in May 2012, claiming a desire to spend more time with his family. He also expressed his growing dissatisfaction with the sport’s administration.
Shifting Gears
Stoner moved to V8 Supercars after following in the footsteps of another Australian MotoGP winner, Wayne Gardner. He signed a deal with Red Bull Racing and was given a ride in the V8 Development Series, which is a lower-level race than the main race. Stoner spent the majority of the season at the tail end of the field, so it wasn’t a smooth adjustment.
Testing Times
Casey Stoner offered to step in after Dani Pedrosa’s injury. Stoner joined Honda as a test rider in 2013 to assist with the development of their next MotoGP bike. For the 2015 season, this contract was extended. On the other hand, Honda chose test rider Hiroshi Aoyama to replace Pedrosa, citing Stoner’s lack of activity and unfamiliarity with the two newer circuits as reasons.
Return Ends With Injury
After a three-year absence, Stoner return to MotoGP as part of the HRC squad for the renowned Suzuka 8 Hour. Teamed with Takumi Takahashi and Michael van der Mark, the trio was expected to be at the pointy end of the field. But it all came crashing down when Stoner crashed out of the race while leading his team. The Australian suffered a broken scapula and a fractured left tibia due to the event.
