Casey Stoner Speaks Candidly About Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez

Casey Stoner was one of the stars of the Trento Sports Festival. The former rider shared many interesting anecdotes: “My idol was Mick Doohan. I left Australia as a young boy, with my whole family, to seek my destiny in Europe. It was a tough time, full of hardship, but also full of promise.”

Questions about his rivalry with Rossi were inevitable: “There were some moments of great tension with Valentino; he was good at intimidating his opponents, both on and off the track. His riding style pushed the limits of the rules. And he handled all communication very well. I suffered a lot because of it—I’ve always been shy, and we were so different. Over the years, we’ve grown closer; we both have wonderful families, we’ve matured, and some of the rough edges have smoothed out. And as a rider, I’ve always had great respect for him.”

He then turns to the stars of today, pointing out the riders who impress him the most. “Among today’s riders, I really like Bezzecchi for his riding style. Jorge Martín is phenomenal because he rides with his whole body—he’s one with the bike. I think Bagnaia’s best quality is his composure—the way he handles the tough moments of the race. Marc Márquez? He’s an absolute champion, someone who’s already a legend in this sport. He’s a guy who’s been through some dark times but has always come out on top.”