Casey Stoner

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Stoner's journey through the premier class began with a turbulent rookie season at LCR Honda in 2006, where he took pole in just his second race but finished eighth. In 2007, he joined the factory Ducati team and immediately delivered their first MotoGP title, winning ten races and six poles to beat Dani Pedrosa by 125 points. He was named Young Australian of the Year for this historic achievement. The following year, Stoner secured six wins and set a record with 280 points as runner-up to Valentino Rossi, the highest score ever gained without the title at that time. His career faced significant challenges in 2009 when chronic fatigue syndrome forced him to miss three races; he was initially misdiagnosed with anaemia before discovering he was lactose intolerant. Despite these health struggles and a bike that struggled against Yamaha and Honda, he still managed four victories that season.

In Their Own Story

In 2011, Stoner left Ducati for the Repsol Honda team, joining teammates Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso. He dominated the season from the start, winning the Qatar opener and securing three of the first five rounds, including Le Mans and Catalunya. His rivalry with Valentino Rossi was highlighted during the Spanish Grand Prix when Rossi crashed into him; after the incident, Stoner famously told Rossi, "Obviously your ambition outweighed your talent." He sealed his second world championship in dominant fashion by winning ten races, clinching the title at his home race with two rounds remaining. However, the 2012 season brought an unexpected end to his career. Prior to the French Grand Prix, the 27-year-old announced he would retire due to burnout. His final campaign was marred by a crash during practice at Indianapolis that cost him several races, but he finished on a high note with a sixth consecutive win in his home Grand Prix at Phillip Island and a podium in his final race.

Reader's Guide

Stoner's career offers a masterclass in adapting to different machinery. He began in the 250cc class in 2005, finishing second behind Dani Pedrosa after five victories. Transitioning to MotoGP in 2006 on an LCR Honda RC211V, he quickly showed his talent despite crashing several times. His 2007 season with Ducati's Desmosedici GP7 remains a benchmark for overcoming technical difficulties; he won the opener at Qatar after a tense battle with Rossi and secured the title with a sixth-place finish at Motegi. In 2010, his final year with Ducati, he struggled until late in the season, winning three races including the inaugural Aragon Grand Prix and a fourth consecutive victory at Phillip Island. After moving to Honda for 2011, he proved his versatility by winning immediately. His post-retirement career included a one-off ride in the 2015 Suzuka 8 Hours, where he crashed due to a stuck throttle causing a technical failure that injured his ankle and shoulder. From 2016 to 2018, he served as a test and development rider for Ducati.

Did You Know?

• Stoner was Ducati's first MotoGP World Champion and remained their only one until Francesco Bagnaia won in 2022.
• In 2008, Stoner achieved a record 280 points as runner-up, the highest number of points ever gained without winning the title at that time.
• Stoner missed three races in 2009 due to an illness initially diagnosed as anaemia, which was later revealed to be lactose intolerance.
• He retired unexpectedly at age 27 before the French Grand Prix in 2012 due to burnout.
• In his final MotoGP race, Stoner achieved a podium finish after securing his sixth consecutive win at Phillip Island.