Stoner warns Elias for Le Mans

MotoGP world championship leader Casey Stoner has warned Honda rival Toni Elias to stop following him to set a fast lap time ahead of round five in Le Mans on May 20, 2007.

Stoner’s patience snapped again in Shanghai recently when he accused Elias of following him to get a good lap time in practice and qualifying.

Stoner has vented his fury at Gresini Honda rider Elias in the last two races and heading to the French GP the factory Ducati rider told MCN: “He should choose somebody else to follow that doesn’t mind it so much.

“It’s frustrating, especially with Toni. He is very good at following. He’s had a few issues with a few riders and I think he needs to regroup and say ‘I don’t need to do this anymore’, start concentrating on what he can do instead of what anybody else can do. It’s not fair.

“I ride my best and find my set-up, find my lines and people sit on my arse copying everything. People take the easy way out instead of doing it the hard way like I do.

“I’m sick of him following me all the time. I have no problem with him, but it’s unnecessary and he should either follow someone else or just get his own piece of track.”

Stoner also took a swipe at Carlos Checa after an incident in Shanghai and the 21-year-old said: “He just sat on my arse. I don’t mind if people are 100 metres back but when they sit right up my arse from the first corner it really frustrates me.”