Casey Stoner is at his home MotoGP race, where he could tie up the 2011 title this weekend on a track he likes, and on his birthday. We hear from him and the other riders ahead of the GP at Phillip Island.
You’d have to say that, all things considered, being Casey Stoner is pretty good right now. With a favourable position in the title race as he heads to Phillip Island, his home track at which he’s won the last four grands prix in a row, he could win the championship on his 26th birthday on Sunday if the maths are right and he significantly outscores his only remaining title rival, Yamaha’s reigning champ Jorge Lorenzo. Not that he’ll be taking it for granted, even if he’s busy enjoying himself.
"Every year I look forward to going to Phillip Island… so I'm excited to get to there and see how the bike works,” Casey said. “As well as the track, the general atmosphere is incredible and I always enjoy the weekend as a whole, and the fans are fantastic.
“Hopefully this weekend we can have a good race, I'm very disappointed after [third place in] Japan as we knew our potential, I want to go there and win the race, like I wanted to in Japan. The season has been fantastic so far and we'll be looking to continue this momentum. If we can top it off with a win in Phillip Island, my home grand prix, it would be a dream. It will be a long hard weekend, and there is still a lot of work to do to win the championship, but we're ready for it.”
And then there’s impending parenthood, with wife Adriana expecting the couple’s first baby. When asked yesterday whether he’d encourage the child to follow in its father’s wheeltracks, Casey was quick to stress that his offspring would be allowed to take any direction in life he or she chose, but did admit they’d be encouraged to love riding bikes in some way.
“He or she… of course, I’m going to want to teach them how to ride a bike,” he commented. “I think it’s a great skill – and everyone enjoys riding bikes.”
Yamaha Racing
For his part, Lorenzo seems relaxed after a short holiday in Indonesia, knowing that even if Casey wins, should he also finish on the podium the title will still be technically up for grabs with two more races in Sepang and Valencia remaining.
GEPA Pictures/Gold & Goose
“I'm looking forward to riding at the Phillip Island circuit, one of my favourites and probably the most beautiful track we race on,” said the Spaniard. “After the race in Japan, where we had a positive result [second], we are really determined to be on the podium again. We know it's not going to be easy because Casey is usually invincible on his home track, but I will try my best and won't give up!”
News broke this week that, as expected, Andrea Dovizioso will race elsewhere next year, securing a berth alongside Cal Crutchlow at the Tech 3 Yamaha team, though the Italian has insisted that all lies in the future, especially as the top Honda RC212V need also only finish third this weekend to clinch the Constructors’ championship for HRC.
'I want to have some spectacular races and score good results for Honda, my team and all my fans' – Andrea Dovizioso
“I'm focused on these last three remaining GPs,” he commented. “I want to have some spectacular races and score good results for Honda, my team and all my fans.”
Dani Pedrosa will look continue his good form after his fine win in Japan, particularly after injury robbed him of the chance to race at Phillip Island in 2010.
“Last year I tried to return to racing in Australia after my collarbone operation and I realised during practice that It would be impossible for me to finish the race,” Dani said. “It was very hard for me to accept that I was not ready to race as a result of the injury and I had to return home empty-handed after a big effort. This year I would like to race in normal conditions and leave Australia with a good result.”
GEPA Pictures/Gold & Goose
A current injury concern after another bad race in a miserable first campaign for Ducati will be Valentino Rossi, who had to leave testing of the new generation of Desmosedici to Nicky Hayden this week after breaking a finger at Motegi in the same place as an ancient former injury, though the seven-time MotoGP champion is continuing to put on a brave face.
"At Motegi, despite the outcome of the race and what the consequences of the crash turned out to be, there were a number of positive aspects,” said the Italian. “We worked well on the bike's balance and set-up, and in the end, from that point of view, we had one of the most positive weekends of the season.
“Phillip Island is another track where the Ducati has always gone well, as have I, so we hope to be able to work as well as we did in Japan. As far as my hand is concerned, the swelling is reduced, and we still have a couple of days before we go on the track. We just have to wait for Friday morning to see how it reacts.”
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