Casey Stoner becomes MotoGP Legend
The six-time MotoGP winner at Phillip Island and two-time world champion has now joined exalted company -- including fellow Australians -- in his new Legend statusCasey Stoner was inducted as a MotoGP Legend at Phillip Island on October 19.
The world champion of 2007 and 2011 becomes the 20th MotoGP Legend, joining riders such as compatriots Wayne Gardner and Mick Doohan.
Stoner joined the MotoGP class in 2006, impressing with Lucio Cecchinello’s LCR team before switching to Ducati and clinching his maiden title in 2007. A second crown came in his maiden Repsol Honda campaign of 2011, before retiring at the end of 2012.
"It is very special," Stoner says as a MotoGP Legend. "It almost seemed a bit unrealistic when I was offered this, but I am not going to turn it down either.
"I appreciate being put alongside riders like that, even though sometimes I don’t feel like I deserve to be there. I am very proud of the achievements we had during our times in Grands Prix.
“We didn’t get the success we hoped for in the lower categories, but with MotoGP in the later years – except a few championships I think we could have fought for a little hard for – we were always very proud of what we achieved. It is a privilege for me to be added to a list of people like that.”
Dorna Sports CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta added the importance of making Stoner a MotoGP Legend – an idea first put to the Australian at the end of last season.
"It is a great pleasure to have Casey here with us today and to be able to introduce him to the Hall of Fame of MotoGP Legends," Ezpeleta said. "Casey has been an incredible rider for us and is really a Legend all around the world. I really appreciate having him here.
"We talked last year in Valencia, at the end of the championship; I proposed it to him, he said he would be very happy to do it and we agreed to do it here. Phillip Island is the place to do it and we are very happy and proud to see Casey and his family here. It is very important. Casey is part of our history and must be here."
Casey Stoner was born on October 16, 1985. During his world championship GP career, which began in the 125 class in 2001, Stoner achieved a total of 45 victories, 89 podium finishes, 43 pole positions and 33 fastest laps as well as his pair of world titles.
Tags
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
