In Grand Prix there are careers whose longevity inspires respect and courses that are too short which arouse regrets. This is the big gap that we see between a Valentino Rossi always on the go and a Casey Stoner already retired. The Australian's passage through the paddock was as rapid as his lap records, but he left a vivid memory for those who knew him. Thus Ramon Forcada, Yamaha's man for Jorge Lorenzo for years, and now head of Maverick Viñales's bodyguard.
Suffice to say that the Spaniard knows what talent is when he sees one. And Casey Stoner was a truly special case… “ He was not the type to take care of his physical condition. I remember once he took a pole position after arriving late at the circuit due to a missed plane. He arrived at the circuit just as testing had started, he swallowed a bar of chocolate, he got on the bike and, after just three laps, he set the best time ».
« It was the pilot who had a natural gift. I have never seen a pilot enjoy such ease. He could have won all the titles he wanted ". A tribute which is also based on facts. Of which the most convincing are to be noted during his Ducati period: “ during his first season in MotoGP with the LCR team, he crashed 23 times. Always losing the front. This is a rider who needs to have total confidence in the front tire ". It will be recalled that at that time, the manufacturers' war was raging and Stoner drove a Michelin…
Then he switched to the Ducati in Bridgestone: “ he always told me that the bike was frankly not extraordinary but that the front tire allowed him to do pretty much what he wanted. He was a real beast on the track, he was so strong on the Ducati that the other riders were wondering how it was possible. He had exactly the bike he wanted and it allowed him to take the record of any circuit after just a few laps ».
Casey Stoner is the only rider to date to have brought a world title to Ducati. It was in 2007. Ten years later, Andrea Dovizioso is able to repeat the feat for the reds who have completely revised their Desmosedici project. This time, it is the work and perseverance of a talented and stubborn Dovi that could pay off.
