Valentino Rossi said goodbye to his weapons, and he officially entered the Grand Prix legend. He was already one in the eyes of everyone, including those of his adversaries who were not against the peace of the brave. A pipe that would be smoked over a drink, since this scenario often emerges from these former rivals. Max Biaggi launched the fashion that Casey Stoner takes up today. But with all the memories and feelings the Australian unpacked in Valencia, it would probably take a dinner to go through it all. Exactly…
Casey Stoner likes to drive and much less like social events. But since he came back in the box Ducati, a brand for which he brought back the only pilot title that it claims to his list of achievements, and that was in 2007, he exposes himself a lot, plays coach with the official pilots and, above all, he lets himself go into confidence . On his career in MotoGP obviously spent jousting against a Valentino Rossi who has just hung up his wetsuit, he remembers, with, also, a very spicy little mention about the team Ducati of the time…
On Gazzetta Dello Sport, the double World Champion in 2007 and 2011, for Ducati et Honda, states: “ I never considered Valentino as the opponent to beat, because there was no one I saw as “the rival”. I wasn't arrogant, but I had a goal and nothing else mattered » he begins. “ But after the first year in MotoGP, seeing things from the inside, my respect for him grew, and at that moment I thought he was someone almost impossible to beat. But instead... »
He continues by continuing his second year in MotoGP with this juicy preliminary: “ at Ducati they didn't think I could fight for the championship, I was just a guy who filled a hole, was cheap and they could get rid of at the end of the year. No one expected anything, but for the first time, a team was there for me, and instead of telling me what I should do, they asked me what I needed. Everything changed, and I was ready to do anything to pay them back ».
Casey Stoner: “ when Valentino realized that I was a danger, he started to create problems«
From there, things changed… “ When Valentino understood that I was a danger, he started to create problems, with the media or on the slopes. I wasn't used to it, and I blamed him. Everyone says he beat me in 2008 ", said Stoner, " but people forgot the points he lost until halfway through the season. And at Laguna Seca, Valentino showed who he really was. The I underestimated what people are capable of doing just to win a classe. I wouldn't have been able to do that, because if I had touched someone and hurt them, I would have felt guilty. It was the stupid part of my character, but it was what made me sleep at night ».
After this strong appreciation, he adds: “ people think it was the turning point of the season, but it was the turning point of my career, because from that moment on, I told myself that I would no longer worry about others, that I would race just for me ". And the consequences of this change of approach were as follows: “ thinking like that has helped me in the years since. With Rossi we had big challenges. The most beautiful ? In Qatar 2008, where he also had Bridgestones, I was so in control that it was almost easy, but I like to think of Barcelona 2007, where the Bridgestones were not at the same level as the Michelins. He had a better pace, but I won the race by fighting like crazy ».
Casey Stoner finished : " now he's going to quit, he's going to be a father, he has his own team, he is at peace with himself and he is very rich. And I hope to have a dinner with him, so he can tell me, from his point of view, what our challenges have been ". It would definitely be a long and beautiful evening.
