MotoGP title rivals pick out key traits that made Casey Stoner so special
But reigning champion Bagnaia and nearest title rival Martin still remember some of Stoner’s jaw-dr💖opping exploits in tricky track conditions.
Speaking at the Australian’s home Phillip Island circuit, where Stoner was unbeaten fro🧔m 2007-2012, Bagnaia said:
“Incredib🧜le🅷 instinct. He was making the difference every time the conditions were not perfect.
"I remember a wet practice. He did three laps and was like 2 seconds faster than everyone. After 40 minutes they got close to him. He entered for an🏅other 2 laps and went another 2 seconds faster! For that🦄, he was incredible.”
Bagnaia, whose title triumph was Duca❀ti’s first since Stoner in 2007, added:
🉐“He was incredible with the Ducati bike when he won the title, the b🐈ike was fast just with him. And the years after he was demonstrating that he was the only one able to go fast with the Ducati.
“When he arrived at Honda🎉 it was like everything easy for him. So I think🎀 his talent and his instinct were incredible.”
Martin admitt𝕴ed he wished the now 38-year-old was still on tra🉐ck.
“One of the greatest talents that ꦉwe had in this sport,” said the Pramac Ducati rider. “I remember Aleix [Espargaro] telling me about the [wet] practice session [mentioned by Bagnaia], when he was so far in front of the rest.
“For sure ifꦛ you are that fast compared to the rest, you have something special. I think it was a pity that he retired so soon. It would have been super nice to see him maybe still riding and maybe being able to ride with him. But it was like this.”
Third in the standings Marco Bezzecchi, a rider tipped as having somethi🍌ng special by 🅷Stoner when he joined the premier class, said: “Difficult to add something more, but a fantastic talent and a very good guy as well.
“🌌Everywhere he wa♕s incredible to watch, but here was something unbelievable. This track is already unbelievable and with his riding style, it was something very nice.”
“He was able to pull away!” added Bagn🐬aia, having previously warned that esไcaping at the front is all but impossible at Phillip Island.
Peter has been in the paddock for 20 years and has seen Valent🧔ino Rossi come and go. He is at the f🧔orefront of the Suzuki exit story and Marc Marquez’s injury issues.
