Casey Stoner hadn’t set wheels on the Phillip Island circuit in 10 years. The last time he raced on this track was in 2012, while the following year he rode a lap of honor with Mick Doohan. Casey has recently made a comeback, not on a MotoGP, but on a quieter Triumph Tiger, along with Chris Vermeulen.
In the video above, you can watch the two former riders on their trip, which started from Melbourne, and after a quick stop at a farm, arrived on the Island. That’s when they got on the track, where Casey revealed some tricks of the trade.
After all, that circuit – where he won the Australian GP six times in a row, from 2007 to 2012 – has no secrets for him.
“All those victories have a meaning for me. I don’t want to say that one was more important than the other,” he explained. “The first, in 2007, was great. That’s where the pressure started. There were so many expectations when I got here. In 2009, I came back [after being diagnosed with] lactose intolerance. I didn’t even know if I could continue my career, and it was really a good time to show that I was still pretty fast. 2011 was special. I won the race, the championship, and it was the day of my birthday. In 2012, I came back after my ankle injury. I didn’t even know if I could be competitive, and I won.”
What was hi secret?
“The main thing was to minimize risks. Winning with as little speed as possible was the best thing for me,” he revealed.
Finally, he made a promise: he’ll be in the paddock in Phillip Island this year to enjoy the MotoGP in what has been and always will be his track.