Casey Stoner was happy to return to the Grand Prix paddock after an absence of almost three and a half years. An event experienced in Portimao and Valencia, during which the Australian renewed contacts, found familiar faces, but also discovered new faces, two of whom were clearly identified as the talents of tomorrow. Who was thus dubbed, from the Ducati box which welcomed him, by the double MotoGP World Champion? Here are the names…
The Australian of 36 years old didn't just shake hands and pose for photos on his return to the Grand Prix crowd. He also went to the side of the track from where he observed his former colleagues in general, and the drivers Ducati in particular, since he was a guest of the brand. He also discovered young talents. And two caught his eye.
Two revelations of which he speaks thus. Let's start with the one he saw in Moto3... " No one can ignore Pedro Acosta, what he showed this year was simply incredible. During the first four races, it was impressive to see this level of maturity in a boy of his age, it was fantastic to watch ". There is real enthusiasm among Stoner about young Red Bull KTM star Ajo. However, there is also Sergio Garcia : “ Garcia was good too, but the injury happened in Austin ", said Stoner, referring to the third in the 2021 championship with the GASGAS, which will remain in the Moto3 category for another year. Acosta, for his part, will enter the Moto2 world championship with the title in his pocket.
Casey Stoner also states: “ there are still a few that I haven't mentioned, but at the same time, just because you are fast in Moto3 doesn't mean you will pass the next classes. Personally, I had more trouble in the small classes than in MotoGP », underlined the winner 45 times in Grand Prix, i.e. 38 in MotoGP, 5 in 250 cc, and 2 in 125 cc.
Casey Stoner also has a crush on Bezzecchi
Stoner also looked at the category Moto2 : " there is a Raul Fernandez, Remy Gardner did a fantastic job this year too. Both were great ". But his attention is elsewhere: “ I think Bezzecchi has a little something extra that we may not have seen or not seen enough of this year. But last year, I saw something in him : a line and other things that no one else in the category was capable of. I'm excited to see what he rides in MotoGP, with a bigger bike and more power », declared the Australian about the academician VR46, under which he will make his debut in the big leagues aboard a Ducati.
That being said, the same Stoner warns his favorites about speedweek that the hardest part will always remain to be done: “ it is very difficult to predict the future. We see a lot of good young talent, but as they move forward, they struggle in various aspects. It's a tough world and the competition is tough ».
