Casey Stoner says MotoGP has taken too much of a direction towards emulating F1 with aerodynamic aids and winglets that he describes on the Ducati in particular as a ‘monstrosity’.
The double MotoGP World Champion cited the direction the sport took in 2007 to revert towards an 800cc formula and the introduction of the production-based Open/Claiming Rules Team (CRT) as factors in his decision to quit the sport after a relatively short career.
Since then MotoGP has upped the performance and lowered lap times with the steady evolution of the machinery, with the implementation of winged elements one of the most significant.
While MotoGP has toyed with regulating the concepts, manufacturers have regularly innovated around any rules. As such, all bikes on the grid have sprouted winglets, some - such as the Ducati with its distinctive GP21 - more ostentatious in its approach.
It’s an approach Stoner doesn’t appreciate, saying it errs too close to the series trying to be like F1.
“I still don’t like the direction MotoGP has taken,” he told Australian Motor Cycle News. “I’d like to see the purity come back, rather than the electronics controlling the bikes on the gas and the winglets controlling the front end. All the bikes are basically clones of each other, which is why they run so close together.”
“It’s a monstrosity, that bike. I’d love to get some of the regulations changed to get half the stuff that’s on MotoGP bikes ripped off. MotoGP doesn’t need wings and everything – it seems to be going in the F1 direction.”
Famously shy of the media and attention surrounding his success during his time in MotoGP, Stoner - who won 28 MotoGP events from 115 starts - Stoner won both an army of fans and detractors with his meticulous approach that often saw him dominate races from the front, proving an antithesis of the more showman approach of Valentino Rossi.
However, he was one of the many to come out in praise of his former on-track rival when ‘The Doctor’ announced he would be retiring from motorcycle racing at the end of the season.
“You’ve been without a doubt one of my greatest rivals, my achievements have been all the more validated having raced against you.
“We’ve had some tough battles over the years, and I learnt a lot from you. I hope you enjoy the next chapter of your life, there is a lot left to enjoy.”
You’ve been without a doubt one of my greatest rivals, my achievements have been all the more validated having raced against you. We’ve had some tough battles over the years, and I learnt a lot from you. I hope you enjoy the next chapter of your life, there is a lot left to enjoy pic.twitter.com/PevKWIBl6x
— Casey Stoner AM (@Official_CS27) August 6, 2021
