Aussie rider Casey Stoner won his last MotoGP world championship in 2011, with Honda
MotoGP represents the most formidable form of closed-circuit motorcycle road racing. With 1000cc engines that produce up to 330-horsepower, MotoGP bikes weigh less than 160 kilos and hit top speeds of about 350km/h. In recent years, advanced electronics and traction control systems have made it a tiny bit easier to control these machines, but you still need superhuman talent to ride these beasts at competitive speeds around some of the most demanding, challenging race circuits in the world.
MotoGP is a demanding sport – physically and mentally – and those who race in MotoGP are some of most capable athletes in the world. Australian rider Casey Stoner, with his two world championships, is right up there with the best. Riding for Ducati, he took an amazing 10 race wins in 2007, winning his first MotoGP world championship, and repeated the feat in 2011, winning his second championship with Honda.
Now 27 years old, Stoner is widely considered to be the fastest man in the world on two wheels – one of the most talented motorcycle racers of his time. In a shock move, Casey announced that he will retire from MotoGP at the end of the 2012 season. In this interview that I did with him [on behalf of Man’s World magazine], Stoner talks about the sport he loves most, the changes he thinks it needs and his rivalry with Valentino ‘The Doctor’ Rossi. Here are some excerpts:
On the changes that MotoGP needs right now
“I strongly believe that the management in this sport should define a clear set of rules and then stick to them for a guaranteed period of time. The constant changing of the rules is deterring manufacturers and privateer teams from entering. If you keep the rules stable for a few years then other teams looking to join the championship know the benchmark and can join with confidence that the rules will not change and that they could become competitive. If they join without this assurance, then it is a huge gamble, as if rules change and they must adapt then they simply may not have the budget which means they exit from the sport.”
On his rivals, against whom he enjoys racing
“Honestly, I really enjoy racing with Dani Pedrosa, my team mate in the Honda factory team, and Jorge Lorenzo. We’ve seen some very close racing between the three of us so far this season and when we are on track and that close to each other, I have confidence riding with them. I hope they feel the same, but for me, to know that it’s them I am fighting with is very comforting as they both have track maturity and are totally aware of their immediate surroundings.”
Casey Stoner won his first MotoGP world championship in 2007, with Ducati
On why he
thinks seven-time MotoGP world champion, Valentino Rossi hasn’t been able to do
well with Ducati
“I think
it’s difficult to say without seeing him on a Yamaha or Honda. What Valentino
has achieved in the sport is very impressive and I’m sorry to see them
struggling now at Ducati. However, they were very quick to judge the situation
from the outside when I was there and commented that they could fix the bike in
80 seconds. Well it’s been 17 months now, numerous chassis’ and millions of
Euros spent and it seems that they are further back from the bike they
inherited in Valencia 2010. Satellite riders have been finishing higher than
Valentino and Nicky Hayden has had some very good sessions. There is no doubt
that it’s a very different style of bike to ride from the Japanese bikes and
I’m not sure what they will try next.”
On riding motorcycles
outside of the racetrack
“I was
fortunate to ride the Honda Fireblade in Australia last year and I was very
impressed. I was shocked that it didn’t have traction control as it was so good
to ride! On public roads, you’d have to be stupid to ride like you’re on a
track, this is something I’ll never understand. As a means of transport to get
around, I don’t use my bike so much as now we are three people so a car is so
much more convenient. When I want to get out to clear my head though, there is
nothing like a nice ride. I have a Honda CB1000R, it’s a very comfortable bike
to ride with a lot of power, but I save my speed for the track.”
On his
motorcycling hero
“Of course,
Mick Doohan. He’s always been my idol, I used to watch all his races as a kid
and what he achieved is something really impressive. To come back from the
injuries he sustained and to then win Championships is incredible. To ride in
the Repsol Honda, the Honda factory Team, in the same livery as he raced in is
something I’m very proud of. I’ve been fortunate to become friends with Mick
and he comes to a few races each year which is really nice.”
On the
party scene in MotoGP and the countries he enjoys visiting
“Ha ha. I’m
not really a party guy, I enjoy having dinner with my friends and being in
their company and having a good time, but not so much partying. I’d say that my
favourite circuits are probably Phillip Island, Brno and Mugello as they are
simply fun to ride at! During the season, I really enjoy racing in Phillip
Island as it provides me with an opportunity to get home and see some friends
and family and spend time in Australia. I also like going to America for the
two races over there, there is such diversity in America and I enjoy travelling
around and spending time in the mountains or by the ocean, I hope to spend more
time there in the future.”
On the
prospect of MotoGP going to India in 2013
“I’ve never
been to India. I read a lot about the F1 race there last year and obviously
watched it and I would be interested to see the circuit for sure. I think that
MotoGP needs to visit more areas and we currently have four races in Spain,
which is too many. MotoGP is the F1 of bikes, if we want to attract a larger
following and new sponsors etc, then we must take the show to new markets.”
On his
decision to retire
“This has
been coming for a couple of years now. After a long time thinking, a lot of
time talking with my family and my wife, I have decided that I will be not
racing in the 2013 MotoGP championship. I will be finishing my MotoGP career at
the end of this season and go forward in different things in my life. After so
many years of doing this sport which I love, and which myself and my family
made so many sacrifices for, after so many years of trying to get to where we
have gotten to at this point, this sport has changed a lot and it has changed
to the point where I am not enjoying it. I don't have the passion for it and so
at this time it's better if I retire now. There are a lot of things that have
disappointed me, and also a lot of things I have loved about this sport, but
unfortunately the balance has gone in the wrong direction. And so, basically, I
won't be continuing anymore.”
On what he’s searching for, in life
“I guess the same as most people, I
always wanted my own family and now with the birth of my daughter Alessandra in
February, this dream has become a reality. I’d like more children in the future and to
spend more time back home in Australia.”
On the bike
he wanted most, as a teenager
“Probably
Mick Doohan’s Repsol Honda!”
On his
dream car
“I love a
lot of cars, but I’m not the kind of person that would waste money on them. I
guess I’d love to drive a few Lamborghinis or a Zonda, but I probably wouldn’t
buy one.”
On his
favourite music
“I pretty
much listen to everything, I don’t have a favourite band as I never know who
I’m listening to! I just like what I hear.”
On his favourite place to go on a holiday
“I’d say
America, but I’d also like to see more of Australia. I’ve been looking at the
Caribbean a lot recently as I know the fishing over there is pretty good!”
On his
favourite films and the Hollywood actress he likes most
“Meg Ryan
has always been my favourite actress. For films, I appreciate clever films with
a twist but recently I’ve been getting into my Westerns and especially Clint
Eastwood movies.”
On whether
he prefers formal or casual clothes
“I’m a
casual dresser as I like to be outdoors, especially when at the farm but also
cycling and fishing. So a suit wouldn’t really be practical. I have a few
bespoke suits that I’ve had made, it’s nice to wear them for special occasions
but in general I’m happiest in a pair of jeans and a tee shirt.”
Note: I interviewed Casey Stoner in 2012, on behalf of Man's World magazine
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