Andrea Dovizioso claims Casey Stoner was the benchmark for MotoGP riders – MotoGP news
Ducati rider Andrea Dovizioso believes that Casey Stoner was the standard setting rider in MotoGP and Stoner’s early retirement from MotoGP was a huge loss for the sport.
“Since I am a fan of bikes, to see Casey ride was a show and I am going to miss what he could do and how he did it on the bike with his style. It is going to be easier, of course, because
a competitor like him is always difficult to beat, but I think Casey changed a lot in MotoGP,” Dovizioso said.
Stoner shocked most MotoGP fans when he announced his retirement from MotoGP during the 2012 season. During his seven years as a MotoGP rider, Stoner claimed the crown twice and won a total
of 38 Grand Prix rounds. Stoner also held 69 podium finishes to his name. The Aussie, after having said farewell to MotoGP will now be testing his skills in V8 Supercars this year.
Dovizioso claimed that Stoner was an ideal for numerous riders and that almost all riders tried to emulate Stoner’s immaculate riding techniques. While making a comparison between Stoner
and the seven times MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi, Dovizioso placed Stoner ahead of Rossi.
“Valentino Rossi might have more silverware, but it was Stoner who was the standout rider of his era,” the Ducati rider said.
Considering the fact that Stoner was only 26 years of age when he announced his retirement from MotoGP, the Aussie had a lot of riding left ahead of him but it was not to be.
It was Stoner who won Ducati their last Grand Prix round back in 2010 at Phillip Island. Ever since, no Ducati rider has won a race. It will be up to Dovizioso now to try and change things
for Ducati by winning at least a few races in the upcoming MotoGP season due to start in April. By far, Dovizioso’s career best season was 2011 when the Italian managed a 3rd place in the final rider’s standings, although he could not win even a single race
throughout the season.
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