Casey Stoner is celebrated as one of MotoGP’s most enigmatic and talented riders. Throughout his somewhat brief career, the Aussie sensation managed to claim two coveted World Championships, romping to glory in dominant fashion in 2007 before giving the great Valentino Rossi all he could handle the following year. He would add another title to his overflowing trophy cabinet in 2011 in his maiden campaign with the Repsol Honda Team, before bowing out from the sport just over a year later.
Despite his career spanning just 11 years with no return in sight, his stint in the upper echelons of the two-wheeled theatre was marked by intense rivalries that added drama to the sport. Here’s a look at Stoner’s five greatest rivals and the legendary battles that unfolded between them.
Valentino Rossi
Throughout the 2007 campaign, the Aussie rider arrived seemingly out of nowhere to become the dominant force in the world on two wheels. He won ten of the 18 races contested that year to romp to his maiden world championship in comprehensive fashion. As such, he headed into 2008 as the favourite to retain his crown, as well as being the top-rated rider on the Moto GP ’08 video game.
The aforementioned title received rave reviews from critics. But unlike the likes of The Witcher, Halo, and The Last of Us, one over-the-top TV show after another which was originally born as a video game, the Milestone-developed title would never make it to the silver screen. Had producers seen what was to come in that 2008 campaign, maybe they would have created MotoGP the show.
The reason why that season was so dramatic was because it was the site of perhaps the most iconic rivalry in MotoGP history, with Casey Stoner battling it out with Valentino Rossi in some of the fiercest clashes the sport has ever seen. The duo’s most famous encounter came at the famed Laguna Seca circuit in California. Heading into the race, the reigning champion had reeled off three straight victories and narrowed the gap to championship leader Rossi to just 20 points.
Stoner took pole position and looked set for the victory. The Doctor however had other ideas. He pulled off an audacious overtake at the Corkscrew, a move that became legendary. Rossi went on to secure the victory – the first of five races on the spin – en route to claiming his sixth championship and first time in two years.
Dani Pedrosa
While Stoner and Pedrosa maintained a respectful relationship, their on-track rivalry was intense. The two riders came to a head during the Aussie’s championship-winning 2008 campaign, with his Spanish rival being his closest contender to the crown. Throughout the first half of the season, Pedrosa pushed hard but regularly came up second best.
The Spaniard finished as runner-up to Stoner in the championship and was unable to cope with the pace of the eventual champion’s Ducati. He won in Germany as well as claiming victory in the season-ending Grand Prix on home turf in Valencia. But ultimately, Stoner had far too much for him to handle, winning ten races and romping to the championship.
The pair would face off again in 2009 as they both attempted to take the fight to Valentino Rossi. Despite the Italian claiming his seventh and final world championship, both Stoner and Pedrosa had their moments in an epic season. The pair were battling each other constantly in the final three races of the season, with both finishing on the podium together in each race. Even though they were embroiled in fierce competition, the two riders shared mutual respect, with Stoner once mentioning that Pedrosa was one of the few riders he remained friends with throughout his racing career.
Jorge Lorenzo
Jorge Lorenzo and Casey Stoner were contemporaries who often battled for supremacy. Their rivalry was characterised by high-speed duels and strategic races, with the former’s methodical and precise racing style clashing with the latter’s aggressive approach. This rivalry was significant in shaping the competitive landscape of MotoGP during their era. Both riders pushed each other to elevate their game, resulting in some of the most thrilling races in the sport’s history, especially during the 2011 season.
That year, the two rivals battled it out for the world championship, and once again it was Stoner who emerged victorious. The pair went head-to-head throughout the first five races, with the Australian winning four of them and his Spanish rival winning one. However, as a result of Stoner’s retirement in Spain and Lorenzo’s three second-place finishes, the title race was neck and neck.
Ultimately though, it was Stoner who streaked away. He finished on the podium in each of the final ten races – winning seven of them – to win his second championship, finishing a mighty 90 points clear of Lorenzo and putting the rivalry to bed once and for all.
