A RETROSPECTIVE ON CASEY STONER’S CAREER...
Australia’s TV Channel 10 broadcast an excellent documentary covering the above, hosted by ex-works Suzuki & HRC GP Rider, Daryl Beattie & also Mick Doohan...
To view this 51 minute programme (in 6 x parts - & sorry about the adverts first) – go to http://tensport.com.au/video.htm?movideo_p=49771&movideo_m=240439
A couple of points for the “Haters”:- every single knowledgeable heavyweight in GP knew very well who Casey Stoner was – even before 2005/6 & was well aware of his sheer speed & potential. If you were one of many one-eyed casuals who never saw him coming – that was your problem. These “experts” ranged from Ramon Forcada (Stoner’s Crew Chief with LCR in 2006 & now Lorenzo’s @ Yamaha), Alberto Puig, Lucio Chechinello & even Carmelo Ezpeleta et al. Listen to what they say – it’s very different to the disinformation & propaganda of some – including those who were in thrall of VR in the motorcycle media hack pack!
Many shallow, vicious myths & fantasies are exposed here: As the programme shows, the relationship with Stoner & his crew being ultra-tight & even “family-like”- Stoner the younger brother. It talks about how Stoner withdrew for several Rounds when ill – in the interests of “safety for all” – NOT any “mystery” or anything else!
This ‘ Bio also includes the infamous incident @ Laguna Seca in 2008, where Rossi actually “cheated”, albeit accidentally - by riding & short-cutting off-track & then coming back on to foul Stoner’s line, forcing him to roll-off & pick-up. Anyone other than Rossi would have been punished – as so succinctly explained by Paolo Ciabatti, the Head of WSBK last year on GPOne.com. When Stoner tells Christian Gabbarini to “shut up – it was my mistake” – he refers to his own quite unassisted “off” shortly thereafter, whilst being rattled, angry & upset with one of the worst & dirtiest non-passes in GP history...
How many either “missed” or “forgot” that Stoner crashed his brains out on secondary or tertiary-level tyres in his early days – but still won 125 & 250cc GP’s & harried Dani Pedrosa all the way for the 250cc Title in 2005? When he announced his retirement @ the French GP in May, he actually led Lorenzo by 1 Point & was still a great chance to repeat his 2007 & 2011 Titles, until he wrecked his ankle in the USA & missed 3 x Rounds.
As his performances since @ Indianapolis, Motegi, Sepang & Phillip Island showed, along with riding for months with a 3 x piece scaphoid in 2008 – Casey Stoner is one tough little bastard! Don’t bet against him ending with a bang @ Valencia. Enjoy.
Cheers