Former MotoGP champion Jorge Loren𝔍zo was as surprised as anyone by title rival Casey Stoner's retirement anജnouncement at the Le Mans pre-event press conference on Thursday evening.

Yamaha star Lorenzo currently trails Honda's reignin♐g double champion Stoner by just one point heading into this weekend's foꦍurth round.

"Itꦅ's a surprise for me, for everyone. I didn't expect it. I hear🔥d the rumours and I thought there was a possibility, but I thought that Casey would continue next year," said Lorenzo, sitting alongside Stoner at the press conference.

"But now he has told us, it'🐟s not good news for MotoGP I think, but his decision is to live qu𝄹ietly with his family and we must respect his decision."

Monster Yam𓆏aha Tech 3's Cal Crutchlow saw the lighter side: "With Casey making that announcement, maybe he can slow down and𒁃 let me have a place in the top three."

26-year-old Stoner, a winner of 35 MotoG𒀰P races, will retire at the end of this season.