Manuel Poggiali: "I understand Casey Stoner"

Casey Stoner’s retirement announcement just one week ago brought out reactions from his rivals and former riders, but who could understand better Stoner’s ‘my passion has ebbed’ and has ‘basically lost my passion’ than two-time World Champion (125cc and 250cc) Manual Poggiali.
Leaving aside Stoner’s other motives for his retirement, the CRTs, how Carmelo Ezpeleta is running the championship, the rookie rule, the fact that Moto3 and Moto2 riders are no longer allowed to bring their motorhomes to the paddock, no one believed he was sick in 2009, the media and fans saying that the races are boring, it’s better to concentrate on what happens when a rider loses that driving passion.

Poggiali threw the towel in 2008 in mid season, after taking a year off from racing, and even if his retirement cannot be compared to Stoner’s, as Poggiali was struggling with lack of results and underlying injuries, while the Australian is at the top of his game.
Eurosport.
it caught up with the 29-year old former Italian champion and here’s an extract from the lengthy interview.

“I can understand better than others Casey’s decision when he says that in life there are things more important than racing and earning a tot of money there’s nothing scandalous in this.

Growing up and maturing makes you look a life differently and you have new challenges, your priorities change and you realize that racing becomes difficult and that having a family and a more ‘normal’ lifestyle isn’t bad at all.
”According to Poggiali, a life completely devoted to motorcycle racing can wear down riders, who end up missing what could be described as the ‘normal everyday’ routine: “People often forget that anyone who embarks on a career as a MotoGP rider often begins at a very early age.
I started when I was 9-years old, Casey left Australia at 14 to come to Europe and pursue his dream of becoming a champion.
At that age you do not know anything else but the passion of racing.
It’s when you grow up that you realize that there can be new needs and priorities and you can live just as well, perhaps better even without racing.
“Many are speculating that since Stoner is a true blooded racer and he won’t be able to resist very long away from the of adrenaline rush that come from racing and winning, but this hasn’t been the case with Poggiali: “When I make my decisions that’s it, I’m not the type who ponders over things.
I thought about it a lot and I realized I wanted to quit, enjoy my family and I’ve never regreted that choice.
I gave all of myself to become a world champion and dedicate that success to my father (who died in 1999) and to leave an important mark in the World Championship: I did and at that point I realized that was right to take another road.
““Bikes are still my great passion” – admits Poggiali, who currently teaches safe riding and is involved in the San Marino Olympic committee and plays soccer – “I haven’t stopped riding, I go to the track with friends and have a lot of fun, without the worrying about lap times.
I don’t know if it will be the same for Stoner, but for me it was.
“During his retirement statement Stoner criticized Dorna on how things are organized and managed, indicating this as one of the reasons for his decision: “Based on my character I would never said those things.
I’ve always been more ‘politically correct’, I would not have said such things, but in my case those details weren’t part of my decision to leave racing.
I disagree with his words, but I respect them.
We often complain that everyone behaves, thinks and say the same things in our world, but that’s not always the case, and I find that this is a great thing .
”