MotoGP: Casey Stoner can dominate like Mick Doohan

Daryl Beattie believes Casey Stoner can follow in the footsteps of his boyhood hero Mick Doohan and dominate premier class motorcycle racing for years.

Former world 500 championship runner-up Beattie has backed Casey Stoner for a glittering career after he claimed his first MotoGP crown in Japan last month.

“I think he can go on and dominate. Injuries are the biggest thing in this game. If he stays healthy there is no doubt that he’s going to be a contender for many years to come, “said former factory Suzuki rider Beattie, who is now a respected TV pundit in Australia.

Beattie said Casey Stoner’s success had sparked a tremendous surge of interest in MotoGP that hasn’t been witnessed since the heady days of Doohan and Wayne Gardner – the only two Australian riders to capture the MotoGP world crown before Ducat star Stoner.

He told MCN: “It’s been great for Australia and there’s a new interest in the sport again. It’s been a while since Mick won and to me its nearly like ‘89 and ‘90 with the Gardner and Doohan days. The vibe is back and people are more into MotoGP.”

Beattie said he never anticipated the massive impact Stoner would have in his first year with Ducati’s factory team, saying: “It really goes to show how important it is to be in a team that wraps themselves around you and really focus on what you want to do He’s been unbelievable. I just think he has a package that’s been as strong as he is. The package has been extraordinary.”

Beattie said one of the defining moments of Stoner’s season came in the Catalunya GP in June when he fended off a fierce attack from seven-times world champion Valentino Rossi.

“In that race Valentino got past and bang, Casey was back at the next corner. He had to do that to show Valentino that he was hungry and that he wanted it.

“The races that impressed me the most were Le Mans where he used his head to get the most points he possibly could out of a tough situation when the pressure was on. He didn’t push and crash and he’s really ridden with his head all year, “added Beattie.