‘MOTOGP NEEDS HIM’

Moto GP is the big loser without the mesmerising riding talent of Casey Stoner. That was the sobering reality check the stopwatch delivered at Sepang. There can be no other conclusion after Stoner’s stunning return to Ducati, most crucially on equal tyres and never having tried the new 2016 Michelin rubber nor the unified ECU software. He had not been on a Moto GP bike for 12 months, and it was three years since he had been on track with fellow aliens, but by the end the Aussie ace was the buzz of the paddock. Stoner’s speed is undimmed as he enters a fourth year of retirement while casually brushing away the offer of big bucks to race again. So just what is Moto GP missing? Jorge Lorenzo said it best: “Stoner

‘Stoner remains the missing alien, up against Rossi, Lorenzo and Co.’

is unbelievably fast and a pure talent. If he was back even for one race I would really enjoy it.” What Stoner does best is ride bikes very fast. Ducati Corse boss Gigi Dall’Igna added: “Casey’s data shows he does things on a motorcycle you do not see from any other rider.” Stoner’s speed would also ask some big questions of the Moto GP grid and potentially bring into question the market value of all riders. He remains the missing alien - up against Rossi, Lorenzo, Pedrosa and for the first time Marquez – and that is what makes any possible return for the 30-year-old Aussie such a mouthwatering proposition.