Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Motorcycling - Time not on Stoner's side
(Reuters) - Confidence and time -- Casey Stoner knows both are in short supply as the double world champion prepares for his tilt at a record sixth successive Australian MotoGP victory.
Stoner needed surgery after breaking his right ankle in a crash during qualifying at Indianapolis in August and while he returned for the last two races in Japan and Malaysia, the 27-year-old knows he needs more time to fully recover.
Honda MotoGP rider Casey Stoner of Australia (R) speaks next to Yamaha MotoGP rider Jorge Lorenzo of Spain during a news conference for Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix in Motegi, north of Tokyo October 11, 2012. REUTERS/Toru HanaiWith retirement looming in November, however, time is not on Stoner's side.
"There is a bloody good reason why I can't ride like I really want to," the Honda rider told local media on Wednesday.
"I know I am not at 100 percent and, to win at this level, everything has to be very close to 100 percent to feel fantastic.
"So for Phillip Island, I really don't know what to expect," added Stoner, who said he felt as if something was "holding him back".
Stoner, who has notched 37 MotoGP wins, finished fifth in Japan on his return from injury and while he took third in Malaysia last weekend, he admitted he lacked the confidence to challenge for the win in wet weather.
"The thing is I'm not fully healed. Most people would have waited a lot longer before coming back and I should have but I can't. I haven't got much time left before the end of my season," said Stoner.
"If I was in much better shape and I crashed and hit my foot, it would not be a problem but, if I do that now, then I am going to put myself back another four or five months."
"If I dislocate it again, I'm in strife. We are talking broken ligaments - not just torn," he added.
"Last Sunday in Sepang, I went thinking I'd just go around carefully, finish the race and not take any risks."
Stoner, who is out of the championship race, will have Turn 3 at the Phillip Island track named after him at a ceremony on Thursday. His final MotoGP race is in Valencia next month.
Fellow Australian world motorcycling champions Mick Doohan and Wayne Gardner also have portions of the track named after them at the circuit on the island southeast of Melbourne.
Yamaha's Jorge Lorenzo leads the standings on 330 points ahead of fellow Spaniard Dani Pedrosa of Honda on 307. Stoner is in third on 213 points.
(Writing by Peter Rutherford in Singapore; Editing by)
- Indonesian Rexy's advise to M'sian team: Stick together as a family
- Thai Ratchanok wins many hearts with her gritty display
- Yongbo: Beat us if you can, not good for China to win all the time
- Squash:M'sian Nicol beats New Zealander in straight sets to reach last four
- Adidas and Puma take rivalry to European football final
- Caterham tried to be too clever, says Fernandes
- MSSM meet: 15 records in five days augur well for M’sian athletics
- Basketball: Warriors have no problem taming Dragons in Jakarta
- MHC: No way we will scrap age-group tournaments
- National hockey juniors fare badly in tourney
- Donald bemoans 'terrible' display as he exits PGA
- Rudisha resists quick buck for gold rush in Rio
- Racing legend Prost rejects calls for F1 overhaul
- Selangor Hockey Association to hold two-day trials
- Woman Natasha racer bids for first MSS win with her father
- Silver Arrows dominate, but Rosberg prefers to stay humble
- Ben excited to make comeback after a long injury lay-off
- Squash:M'sian Nicol beats New Zealander in straight sets to reach last four
- Australian Marques leads at 111th Malaysian Amateur Open (MAO)
- Youngster Zaqhwan surprises himself with a new lap record
RSS
