Top 10 MotoGP stories of 2012

2012 may not have been a stunning year for on-track MotoGP action, but there were plenty of off-track moments to capture your interest - most involving Casey Stoner, Valentino Rossi and Ben Spies.

These were the top ten most read MotoGP stories on Crash.net last year...

1. Yamaha confirm Valentino Rossi's return - 10 AugustYamaha has confirmed that Valentino Rossi will return to its factory MotoGP team to race alongside Jorge Lorenzo for the 2013 and 2014 seasons...

2. Ben Spies to leave Yamaha MotoGP team - 25 JulyBen Spies has announced that he will be leaving the Factory Yamaha MotoGP team at the end of this season...

3. Casey Stoner: Why I'm leaving MotoGP - 18 May After reading a statement announcing the shock news that he will retire from MotoGP at the end of this season, reigning double world champion Casey Stoner gave more details as to why he wants to quit grand prix racing at the age of just 26...

4. Stoner: Rossi has 'done nothing but complain' - 15 August Reigning MotoGP champion Casey Stoner has given a damning assessment of Valentino Rossi's time at Ducati...

5. Ben Spies reveals tension with Yamaha - 20 AugustBen Spies, who announced via the internet that he was leaving Yamaha on the eve of last month's US MotoGP, has revealed behind-the-scenes tension with a senior member of the company...

6. Valentino Rossi 'very worried' after 'negative' test - 1 MarchAfter an optimistic debut test on the all-new Desmosedici GP12, Valentino Rossi's 2012 MotoGP hopes took a serious knock at this week's Sepang return...

7. Casey Stoner to retire from MotoGP - 17 May Reigning double world champion Casey Stoner has made the shock announcement that he will retire from MotoGP at the end of the 2012 season...

8. Official: Valentino Rossi quits Ducati - 10 AugustIt has been officially announced that MotoGP superstar Valentino Rossi will conclude his Ducati career at the end of 2012...

9. PICS: Valentino Rossi returns to Yamaha - 13 NovemberThese are the first pictures of seven time MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi making his Yamaha return during the start of post-season testing at Valencia on Tuesday...

10. Stoner ups the ante on struggling Rossi - 28 AprilFormer Ducati rider Casey Stoner increased the pressure on Valentino Rossi after another disappointing performance from the Italian at Jerez on Saturday...