There’s no denying that Casey Stoner deserved his place in MotoGP history and especially at Ducati, being the first rider to win a world title for the Italian manufacturer in the premier class, something that only Pecco Bagnaia has done, and twice (in 2022 and 2023). However, 2024 is once again proving to be a very strong year for the two-time champion, and Davide Tardozzi even believes that Bagnaia is surpassing what Stoner did.
The Ducati Lenovo Team Manager initially appeared ‘bothered’, in words to Motorsport, by the fact that the reigning champion is not leading the championship despite having more wins (in Sunday races): ‘I have to say what bothers me a little is that Pecco has won half the races and is second in the championship. This is something that should and must give us pause for thought for the future’.
Tardozzi did not avoid admitting ‘mistakes’: ‘We have made a few too many mistakes in the races, it must not be like that in the near future. But to have a rider who has won half the races is something important’.
And it is precisely because of the performance he has shown that Tardozzi sees the Italian ‘surpassing’ what Stoner did with Ducati, he explained: ‘Pecco is making history, right now he is outclassing a great guy like Casey Stoner, so thank you Pecco!’.
Stoner is considered one of the best MotoGP riders of all time, in terms of pure talent, having won two titles in the category, on Ducati and Honda.