Casey Stoner plays down Yamaha recovery

Casey Stoner doesn’t believe Yamaha has taken a big step forward in performance after Ben Spies and Jorge Lorenzo won the last two MotoGP races to halt Honda’s brilliant start to 2011.

Before Spies claimed his maiden success in Assen and Lorenzo staged a rousing fightback to win last Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix, Honda had won five out of the opening six races, with Stoner victorious on four occasions.

Stoner still leads the world championship by 19-points going into next weekend’s Sachsenring race in Germany and he said: “I think Jorge is just riding with more confidence and that’s about it. I don’t see the bike working any better. I’ve been behind it a few times and it seems to be pretty much the same. I should have been able to win the race (Mugello) and then it would not have looked as good as what it does now. 

“People don’t realise that there is not a big step between the bikes. All the bikes out there are capable of winning and doing well. In Le Mans Yamaha is usually competitive but this year not and then in Catalunya they were second and third, so I don’t think they are so uncompetitive. It depends each weekend on rider confidence and the set-up but I think they will be pushing for the front.”