Video: Casey Stoner denies MotoGP races are dull

Casey Stoner doesn’t believe that modern era MotoGP races have become too dull.

Speaking at the launch of Ducati’s 2009 squad at the Madonna di Campiglio ski resort in Italy, the Australian said the introduction of the 800cc engine capacity rule in 2007 had not been a major detrimental step for MotoGP racing.

Stoner has had to contend with accusations that he has contributed to MotoGP being labelled dull and boring by some critics, with several of his 16 wins coming in runaway fashion.

He said: “I watched all the 500 races from the old days from ‘80s and ‘90s and they were exactly the same. There was still the occasional race like we had this year that went down to the wire and then there were lot of times when riders like (Wayne) Rainey and (Kevin) Schwantz just pulled away at the front.

“I don’t think things are changing because of us, I think that people just forget and look back and say those days were the best. I’ve looked back at those days and they were very similar to these days.

“When Mick Doohan was riding how many races did he pull away at the front? Everyone looks back and says those days were great racing and I look at those races and I still see the same situation.”