Stoner: Honda switch vindicated ability
Casey Stoner says his dominance of the 2011 MotoGP championship with Honda - and Valentino Rossi's struggles after replacing him at Ducati - have given him a credibility he never attained while riding for the Italian marque.
Stoner won his first MotoGP crown with the Desmosedici in 2007 and was a race-winner in the subsequent three seasons, never finishing lower than fourth. Rather than approbation, however, the Australian said he received 'nothing but mistrust' from the media.
He says the situation changed following his move to Honda, with whom he dominated in 2011 taking 10 wins, 16 podiums and 12 pole positions on his way to a second MotoGP title.
That coincided with a first winless season for Valentino Rossi, who moved across to Ducati as Stoner left something the Australian believes has helped vindicate his ability and prove he could have won more titles.
"Everything has changed very quickly," Stoner told Motosprint. "In previous years I would get nothing but mistrust from the media, and generally very little consideration for what I was doing and the effort I was putting in.
"But then Valentino and I changed bikes: he took the one I had had for four years, while I took the bike of my dreams to show what I'm able to do.
"This change of situations has allowed me to let everyone understand that I could have fought for the title in previous years too, and that I could have won at least another title."
Stoner also said Rossi's claims that Honda operated on a huge budget in 2011 were not just wide of the mark, but also disparaging of his title success.
"Valentino [Rossi] is saying and doing everything to belittle what was done by myself, my team, and Honda last year," Stoner declared.
"It's not true Honda spent so much money, because it's not a company of stupid people. It made no sense to invest a lot on a bike, the 800cc, on the verge of being retired, while in the meantime the new 1000cc was being developed.
"As a matter of fact Honda in 2011 didn't do much more than usual and the proof is that the 2011 bike wasn't so different from the 2010 one, except for the gearbox. Moreover, my bike remained practically the same throughout the season.
"The truth is that Honda already had a good bike even before my arrival: it just needed new strength coming from the outside, fresher strength able to make the difference without being frightened by this role."
Comment 42 - 61 of 61
@ comment 34 Kristof
This must be the most stupid example I have ever read in my life! Is BMW M3 and Citroen C1 vehicles of the same class? Well, I have a better idea: let's race a fully customized Hayabusa against a 125 c.c. scooter... on a straight flat dragster track!!! ha ha ha... I just don't know who is the biggest morron: you or those 9 people who gave you "thumbs up"?
@ comment 37 Kristof (again!)
When did actually Rossi win on a REALLY inferior bike? As far as I can remember, when he switched to Honda he had the whole crew of Mick Doohan (another Australian!) on him. When he moved to Yamaha, the bike was already pretty competitive, too. And besides Biaggi (who couldn't do much in MotoGP anyway), there wasn't actually any serious competition back then.
Hugh 40 - you stand corrected, When did I say Stoner was a bad rider ? I said he has been clever or lucky in his choice of bikes, and I said he can't develop a bike, I have never said he is a bad rider just that I don't like him,(if it offends you that I don't like him that's tough). Loris played a big part in developing the Ducati and lost his oppertunity to win the championship in 06 because he was injured and out for several races in an accident caused by Gibernau.
@glyn689 , when have i ever said stoner was the greatest ever? I have never said that! And yes i think rossi wont win ever again and i will stick by that! STONER FOR 2012
Like it or not Stoner is the man to beat again this year. He pushes the most out of every bike he rides and Rossi wasn't prepared to do that last year, he knew he was wasting his time with Ducatti last year so why risk injury with no chance of a decent return. If Ducatti don't produce a competitive package for Rossi this year expect a substandard performance from him, he's no spring chicken and it's obvious he won't push as much as some of the other riders. He's still an amazing rider but so is Stoner who is prepared to push harder now at this stage of his career so Rossi will demand a better bike, if he doesn't get it he won't challenge for the title again this year.
Michael, they're missing their "X Factor" ! lol
I can't understand all the anti stoner toss written here. bike fans like bike riders for their BIKE RIDING ABILITY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! For @#$%'s sake. stop it. write something interesting or constructive. this board sounds like a bunch of thirteen year olds. Christ, that's it, isn't it?
History is already on Rossi's side,Fun mixed with huge talent and success but history will show Stoner as a sick weedy little Australian(similar to Webber) with everything a man could want,Money and fantastic wife and a little bit of success but still the most unliked Motorcycle champion ever.You simply cant make someone a nice person and Stoner's just not a nice person unlike Rossi,Sheene,schwantz to name but a few.
@callum u need to chill, if mr rossi wins even one single race you have already declared that will never happen , so if he does you have made a fool of yourself step back and take a chill pill you seem to get over exited about defending mr stoner you then say he's the greatest ever if true you no longer need to defend the man have an early night
Rossi will not win a race again.. and that's when I lose interest.. (This is from a Rossi fan.. a pessimistic one of that..)
you lot do type a load of t0ss on here
@M , yes mark me , ill make a deal! If rossi wins the title next year i will never comment on the site again , sadly for you it wont happen , and @ sparra1967 they were not imtimidated by marco's talent , they were intimidated by his agressive riding style ! Your just finding an excuse to hate on the 3 best riders out there , and riders are not there for a personality contest! Just because they dont pull a stupid face at the camera
i have not read the website for a while .......
Glad to read the same old posts from callum mansell, hugh and all the rest of the anti-rossi lot !! Rossi is right to say that Honda have a huge budget - they do !! 20+ odd chassis for Pedrosa during the 800cc era etc... and it took them 4 years to get it right - lets face it the Honda was a bullet last year and just needed a rider that could stay on it, Rossi, Lorenzo or Stoner would have won on it.
Glyn689 always constructive..in your comment
Lets us see this year if Pedrosa, Lorenzo or Stoner pick on another up and coming rider like they did Marco last year to try and squash their talent as they felt intimidated - i bet they don't - they are all shallow - i have more respect for the CRT riders than those 3 - they are show room dummies - no personality or minds of their own. They are all strong riders (Lorenzo speak) but have they learnt anything from last year !!!!! i doubt it. Rossi is confident and he knows he has to prove himself so that in itself has probably sparked off the reaction from Stoner, Lorenzo et al in the press. Testing next week in Sepang - should be interesting... i will be at LeMans and then riding to cataluya with my brother, nephew and a few mates if any one want sto get in touch and meet up... or are you all just arm chair fans...
all best for the season - i know who i want to do well.....
@Callum,
What should I mark you if Rossi starts winning? make a choice!!
@M , what are you talking about? Rossi has no chance in 2012 , it will either be stoner or lorenzo for 2012 and the following years! And the ducati is fine , its just rossi cant ride it like casey can! If you think rossi will win in 2012 then you are just plain stupid
Rossi will beat Stoner, Lorenzo, Pedrosa..etc this season. Ducati will be competitive and can challenge Honda and Yamaha. Just imagine Stoner on CRT...Stoner will not win more than one championship again, and he will quit after CRT is enforced.
This season Rossi will beat Stoner good, especially after loads of craps he said. The new Ducati is a miracle and if like of callum&Co think its going to be the same, well they're deluded. Stoner himself knows there something is happening in Ducati. Mark my word. Bring on 2012.
Its going to be a great season. Still a couple of months to go and already Rossi is inside Stoners head. Stoner should study how Rossi destroyed Sete Gibernau and Biaggi several seasons ago with mind games. There's more to being a champion than riding fast and Stoner needs to learn that, instead of giving Rossi an advantage by his constant wingeing. As for personality, Rossi has it in spade loads while Stoner has about as much as a turd.
Post 38, bogdan (or should it be bogpan). No one killed anyone and it's disgusting to make comments like that , what a pathetic ball bag you are.
@ hugh only answered your original question correct me if i'm wrong ,you were i did i never said stoner was a bad rider i just answered your post if your'e offended by that don't ask to be corrected
and Pedrosa beat him last year too, so........
Maybe his team mates have had competitve/equal machinery too?
Does this mean Casey has some riding ability to beat these other riders???
How can such a bad rider beat these world class competitors on equal machinery?
If Casey won world titles only having Gibernau on a slower bike as a competitor, I could understand.
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