Get it up ye stoner! - ye bikes kack

Well I am going to defend Casey a little,not because I am biased toward the Ducati team though. Mick Doohan was an outstanding champion who had everyone's respect. He was never jovial or likely to put on a show. He was simply an awesome rider,end of.

Aussies are very often like that,can appear lacking in personality but very much like Americans generally.....they enter to win not just to take part.

But Casey's story is even more complex and feel sure his story adds a lot to his reserved nature in public. We must remember the sacrifices his family unit made in order to give him a shot at breaking through in racing here in europe. There was no grace and favour offered at all. They sold everything they had and brought him to europe in the hope that he would make the grade.

Just think what a strain that would put on a young teenager? Knowing what his parents have committed and it all was down to him to ensure he did not fail? Some burden indeed. I suggest that a part of Casey's make up is fear. Not of falling or getting hurt,but of failing and dragging his family back down again. I really do think that is why he gets so vexed when others shrug situations off. He has to be doing well to keep him atop that slippery slope to failure,mediocrity and to constantly strive to be the best he can.

I am a racing fan and love to see riders ride well,they do not have to be race winners to do that. I hate to see anyone fall. I also watch them for their skill on the bikes and not for their personality. They are not running for an election or trying to woo my daughter,personality does not matter. Hence I have the greatest admiration for both Casey and Dani who simply just want to get on with the job. I also though, respect Valentino for his unquestionable skills and for being the face that saw bike racing viewed by such wider audience. The sport can carry both introverts and extroverts,yer we need not criticise simply because one falls in to our not favoured personality pigeon hole.

As a British race fan I am disgusted that just like last year,certain elements behaved in a far from sporting manner towards Casey. Every home crowd has it's home boys, but I know of no other race track where this kind of partisan and idiotic behaviour goes on. Totally shameful in my opinion.

[Supervox]

The big difference between Doohan & Stoner though is that MD never gave a damn whether anyone liked him or not - whereas Casey seems to 'need' or at least expect some adulation.