Casey Stoner had not returned to a Grand Prix paddock for three and a half years, but, listening to him, his technical conception of a MotoGP stopped the day he retired altogether. We were then in 2012. But that's not all: his idea of a circuit dates, more or less, from the same era. Since then, everything that has been developed and validated would have harmed not only the show but also safety...
The time spent away from the paddock has not eroded the outspokenness of a Casey Stoner whose approach to competition is as simple and clear as was his natural talent to challenge the clock with any motorcycle. In an interview with GP One, he pulls no punches in criticizing two aspects of today's MotoGP: the electronics, certainly, but also the green part that has appeared on the circuits.
On the electronics, i.e. the inertial measurement unit, the charge is that of a purist who only believes in one thing: the throttle grip..." I think it is necessary to make a significant reduction in electronics », thunders the Australian. “ Honestly, I think we need to take a step back. I would like to see the riders slip up again, see them make mistakes, fight to stay on the bike. All of this could happen again if certain rules were changed. I also think it would benefit drivers when overtaking ».
It will be recalled that currently a computer manages precisely what percentage of power must be applied to the rear wheel in each curve, what degree of engine braking must be used depending on the need for traction required and it also takes care of preventing the front wheel to lift during acceleration to improve speed as much as possible when the rider turns the throttle to 100%… But Stoner does not stop at scholarly bullet points in his indictment: “ there are some items that shouldn't be here, and I'm not just saying that for security reasons ».
Casey Stoner: “ this will turn into Formula 1«
What is it about ? Devices such as the holeshot or the increasingly widespread use of ailerons, which opened a new era in the development of aerodynamics. For the double World Champion, we should cross out all that, because there is a danger: “ there are a lot of things that drive up development costs, in the end it will turn into Formula 1. I would like some of these parts to disappear completely » he said, recognizing that “ there would be a lot of controversy » if he was the person responsible for deciding which element could be used in MotoGP prototypes.
We will recall in passing that he was the guest of the red factory Ducati at the time of his positions, knowing that it is the Borgo Panigale brand which brought and developed most of the elements that he no longer wants to hear about... But the Australian also wants, and even much more, the green part appeared on the lines. A rejection that we didn’t necessarily expect: “ there are no more track limits, now there are only green painted limits ". According to him, " This doesn't help, because the pilots are no longer afraid ».
« Before, when there was grass, you had no choice but to control yourself, now they say 'hey, even if I leave it doesn't matter, I could move further away because I still have room.' From my point of view this is the worst thing that has happened to the motorcycling world in recent years. There are no more limits on the track », ends the old number 27.
