Casey Stoner is considered a MotoGP legend due to his brief but notable stint in the premier class. He won two MotoGP titles with two different factories, thanks to his aggressive but efficient racing style. His consistent speed and battle against renowned drivers such as Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa impressed fans. However, Stoner himself doubts his place among the best drivers in history due to his less impressive track record.
Indeed, in an interview relayed by Todocircuito, the Australian makes this astonishing admission: “ I don't know if I belong to this group. I am very proud of my career, even if I could have done more. I am very grateful for everything I have learned, but I don't think I can be considered at that level ».
Despite this, he is proud of his career and does not regret retiring. He considers himself lucky to have had incredible opportunities in MotoGP, such as riding a 500 for the first time at Goodwood. Stoner also expresses his love for 2-stroke motorcycles, which he considers more difficult to ride but also more exciting: “ When I arrived in MotoGP, I was disappointed because 500 cc bikes no longer existed. I believe that riding 2-stroke is an art. All my bikes are 2-stroke: the KX 500 from 93, the CR 500 from 96, the CR 250 from 2007 and the TM 300. The feeling compared to a 4-stroke is simply different. They are more difficult to ride, but also more exciting ».
Casey Stoner: “ everyone thinks that being lighter is an advantage, but motorcycles are heavy and extremely powerful and you are not as stable when you are light »
When it comes to the best drivers of all time, Casey Stoner mentions Giacomo Agostini, Mick Doohan, Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez, but emphasizes that it is difficult to name others. He also mentions Dani Pedrosa, with whom he shared a box, and believes that he did not achieve as many victories as his talent deserved, due to his small size and the difficulty of riding powerful motorcycles for lightweight riders.
The Australian pays him this tribute: “ he is the one who has earned the least in relation to his talent. Everyone thinks being lighter is an advantage, but motorcycles are heavy and extremely powerful and you're not as stable when you're light ". And he ends: “ although being so small he was very fast. I myself was small for MotoGP, I weighed 59 kilos. I think Dani weighed 55 ».
