Casey Stoner: the next big thing?

I believe Valentino Rossi is phenomenal rider. The best there is both as a racer and as a character. Not that I know him personally, but I did meet the guy last year at the Donington MotoGp. He was more or less at the top of his game at the time, but given his stature and fan following, he still came across as a humble guy.
Today, he is struggling. To cope with an average machine, and less than average tyres. Or so we are made to believe.
Maybe the truth is: he has finally met his match in the young Aussie Casey Stoner. And Rossi’s fun and games off track have done little to psyche this particular bloke. Casey, of course, doesn’t come close to the Italian for being someone you’d want to watch after the chequered flag has been brought down – he doesn’t entertain with his bowling (the 10-pin sort), or with his on-track surgery among a host of fans dressed in doctor coats, or play out the snow white and the seven dwarfs fairy tale on his victory lap. No sir, Stoner wins, waves to his fans, and then hugs all and sundry in the pit lane.
But during the race, he is certainly worth a watch and more. You won’t obviously find me power sliding out of corners like Hayden, or hanging off and sliding into rider under braking like Elias, or even brushing his elbows on the tarmac like Hopkins, but Casey, much like Rossi is deceptively fast. Clean, devoid of drama, but very fast indeed. But what really makes him a brilliant watch, is his ability to absorb pressure and deliver without a hitch come what may.
The 2007 MotoGp season is a testimony to the same – watching Rossi slide, running wide, and making mistakes has been a common sight this season. But I can’t remember many occasions when Stoner slipped.
Sure, he had a faster bike, but the Ducati isn’t as great a handler as the Yamaha. And at the end of the day, you need someone talented - gifted would be the right word here – to ride the stead home.
Stoner is just that guy.
Look at Capirossi, Casey’s teammate for comparison; the Italian has been nowhere near the Aussie this season, and he is talented too.
There is also the argument about tyres, highlighted by the Rossi camp no doubt, that Bridgestones were a better bet than Michelins, and Rossi’s move to ride on the former in 2008 just stamps that, doesn’t it.
You can’t really argue about that, but my point is, Rossi has seen worse, and he has managed to come up triumph in the past. So what’s different this time? Stoner. Period.
I saw Casey ride on the Honda last year, and boy was he good. But watching him this year, I believe Stoner is probably as gifted as the charming Italian. And maybe, he might replace Rossi as the best MotoGp rider ever, in the coming years.
The 2008 season should reveal all…