Has your Attitude towards Stoner Changed?

[CairnsDuc]

The reason I ask is, during the Telecast* of the MotoGP this weekend, former Racer turned Commentator Steve Parrish
made the comment that a number of people in the Racing (European) press are starting to view Casey Stoner in a Different light
as he was able to Tame and control the Ducati where it appears Rossi can not, that maybe he is now being seen as
a bit of a hero in the Red Camp (Ducati)

So, has your opinion of him changed? maybe your thoughts about him complaining constantly (Casey Moaner) have
also changed? with the Desmo constantly trying to thrown him and itself down the road, do you feel that he was
justified to have a bit of a whinge?

Your thoughts?

*The Australian OneHD Telecast

[swampduc]

I doubt overall opinions have changed much, at least not on the DMF where he's viewed as marginally more likeable than pedrosa 

I've always had great respect for him, and now have even more, taking into account rossi's failure thus far on the desmo. I always felt people were unfairly critical of stoner, especially during his health problems last season. Then again, I like riders more for their skill than their personality. Some guys are better at playing the press game; it doesn't make them better people.

[desmoquattro]

Now that he's not on the Ducati, I think he's a whingeing little robot

Just kidding...Casey has always ridden like a god, and I respect him for that. 

[Jester]

Never did like his personality and I still don't particularly enjoy him, although lately he seems to be opening up slightly which helps.  As far as watching him ride a bike, he's stupid fast, fun to watch, and I'll jerk it to his wife, but I don't cheer for him.

[ducpainter]

I doubt overall opinions have changed much, at least not on the DMF where he's viewed as marginally more likeable than pedrosa 

I've always had great respect for him, and now have even more, taking into account rossi's failure thus far on the desmo. I always felt people were unfairly critical of stoner, especially during his health problems last season. Then again, I like riders more for their skill than their personality. Some guys are better at playing the press game; it doesn't make them better people.

Stoner has always been batshit fast and I've always said that. He did on the Ducati what no one else has been able to do.

I admire riders for their skill and like them for their personality.

I still don't like Stoner.

[swampduc]

I admire riders for their skill and like them for their personality.

[The Don]

My attitude has not changed one bit, I still think he's one of the best Australian riders the world has seen, an absolute champion.
Disclaimer, I may be a little one eyed

[zarn02]

I admire riders for their skill and like them for their personality.

I still don't like Stoner.

+1

[koko64]

I see him as an even better rider now hes the only one to win on the carbon 800. He has the best stats in the 800 era. Rossi has fallen in my estimation with his bullshit comments about Stoner riding the Ducati. Rossi said in an interview that he could ride it on the limit like Stoner did but that it was not the best way. If he could I reckon he would have until they fixed it, but he hasn't. He's pretty quiet now, it's the bike now! So I guess Stoner has gone up in my regard in a relative sense as well.

I think hes whinging less. Starting to mature I guess. He'll be a dad soon, then he'll know about lack of sleep. In the last race he admitted it was his physical condition, Jorge's riding and not the bike that put him third place. Stoner and Jorge seem to have a great deal of mutual respect, they talk on the podium but ignore Pedrosa.

[gm2]

Stoner has always been batshit fast and I've always said that. He did on the Ducati what no one else has been able to do.

I admire riders for their skill and like them for their personality.

I still don't like Stoner.

that.

however i do think he's grown up a bit, which has made him closer to likable.  closer.

and things like that pass on pedro at laguna have made me respect his racing ability more.  he's always been stupid fast; now he's learning to race, too.

[fastwin]

+1

+2 ... +3... I've lost count. I too admire his skill on the track, but I could say the same for Pedrobot. Doesn't mean I have to like them or their personality. But I've been told they don't like me either and I have no skill to admire. I don't care if you are a banker, football player, actor, or whatever you do you can have great skills at your craft but if you are an arogant dick, have no personality, rude to fans/press, etc. it makes it hard to like you. Not saying Stoner or the 'bot are dicks, just saying I like most of the riders in the paddock more than them. Even though they may not have the on track skills.

Not to drag NASCAR into this but people either loved or hated Dale Earnhardt because of his personality. His skills on the track could never win over the half of the fans that hated him. I think something similar applies to Stoner and the 'bot. Whereas Rossi's personality, his connection with the fans and his skills on the track are an unbeatable combination.

[ZLTFUL]

I had this discussion with the parts guy at my local Duc dealer this weekend.

He brought up a good point.
Stoner needed to push hard. He NEEDED to ride the wheels off the Duc. Because of what he was able to do on the Duc gave him the opportunity to go back to Honda.

Rossi is 34. He has 9 world championships under his belt. His career in MotoGP is winding down. He doesn't need to ride the wheels off the Duc. He has nothing more to prove and breaking himself trying to prove something at this point (with essentially a new bike right around the corner next year) would be pointless.
He has still managed to stay in a decent spot in the points overall even with all of the misfortune.
Rossi isn't the problem with the Ducati. Ducati is the problem with Ducati. Rossi/Burgess proved with the Yamaha that they can polish a turd and make it win. But Yamaha was also substantially more willing to open up to their suggestions than Ducati has been for anyone. Stoner included (How long did it take Ducati to finally listen to Casey's complaints about the front end).

That being said, HUGE respect for what Casey accomplished on the untamed Bronco that is the Desmo.
I admire his ability to ride as well as he can.
I can't stand his whiney attitude.
I don't like him.
Never have, never will and I am a huge fan of Australians in world competition. Got the autographed t-shirt from Doohan, the pictures/posters/shirts of Bayliss and Corser too.
But I don't feel like Casey is cut from the same cloth as those guys.

[fastwin]

Well said. I agree. And yes, Stoner and the 'bot still don't like me either.

[CairnsDuc]

To add further to the Discussion, To play Devils Advocate...

Could Stoners Whinging be from the Constant culture problem at Ducati, it's not the Bike, It's you!
We saw how many times other riders approached the Desmosidici trying to tame it, and when they failed, they were blamed, wasn't it Marco Melandri who was famously sent to a Shrink because he was being blamed for the bikes problems?

I could not blame Stoner if out of Sheer Frustration he was seen to be whinging to anyone who would listen when every time you try to tell your Bosses that something is wrong, they deny everything and tell you no no, you are wrong!  but I wonder if that is what it was a lot of the time, not making excuses for the guy, but that thought did cross my mind on a number of occasions....

It has been amazing the transformation that Stoner has undergone this year, not having to battle a bike that wants to hurl you down the road everytime you approach a corner, mind you, I think the PR people at Honda have also helped Casey understand that the Press can be your best friend if handled correctly.

Don't get me wrong, I am not a one eyed Casey supporter, I simply prefer Casey simply because he is an Aussie, but I also like seeing a good intense battle on the track and the best rider on the day win it, Even PedroBot!

[gm2]

he complained at LCR, too.  he even accused Ohlins of sabotage.

and he was crazy fast on the honda then, as well.  he started from pole in his first premier class event.  it's not a super big transformation considering he then eventually graduated to factory honda machinery.  and a factory honda at the time they finally got the 800 sorted.

what amazes me about him and his time at ducati was his ability to keep it pinned no matter what the bike was doing.