Two-time MotoGP World Champion, Australian Casey Stoner (Photo: Dorna Communications)

He wasn't an especially beloved figure among fans either -- a least not to the degree his success would predict; the dour Stoner was often cast as the villain to Rossi (or Lorenzo's) white knight, but again, Casey wasn't interested in playing anyone else's game, and deserves considerable respect for sticking to his guns and standing up for his beliefs rather than succumbing to any outside pressure.

It would have been easy to return. Walking away was the more difficult path.

Like Barry Sanders, Stoner's exit while at the peak of his prowess almost guarantees that his name will surface in silly season talk for the next five years (at minimum) -- even if he retains a low profile and keeps busy bow hunting and fishing instead of paddock prowling.

Many in a similar position inevitably return -- but they're more often the ones who crave the spotlight and can't adjust to a more subdued life. Stoner seems more akin to Sanders than a Michael Schumacher or Michael Jordan -- and now it's harder to imagine him making a comeback than disappearing into anonymity.

But if he does decide to make a return, rest assured it will be on his terms.

Love him, hate him, or love to hate him, even leaving several prime seasons on the table, Casey Stoner will go down as one of the sport's all-time greats... and SPEED.com Motorcycle Racing's Biggest Surprise of 2013.

SPEED.com Motorcycle Racing Editor Chris Martin saw Eddie Lawson win aboard a Kawasaki the first time he attended an AMA Superbike race and witnessed Ben Bostrom win a World Superbike race aboard a V&H Ducati the first time he worked one. He has written about AMA SBK, WSBK, and MotoGP for SPEED.com since 2003. Chris is now on Twitter.