“We’re turning engineers into world champions”
Stoner was critical of the technical upgrades in MotoGP. He is particularly critical of the electronics and the resulting reduction in the workload for riders.
“You have almost 300 horsepower and can just open the throttle without anything happening,” explained Stoner. “In the past, a rider had to control the motorcycle, master sliding, or balance a wheelie out of a corner. Today, the electronics do all that.”
Even in his time as a test rider, he experienced that it was no longer possible to use the clutch when entering corners because it interfered with the systems. For Stoner, it’s clear: “We’re making the engineers world champions, not the riders.”
Criticism of ride height devices and aerodynamics
In addition to electronics, aerodynamics also came under fire. Winglets and ride height devices are expensive and fundamentally change the sport. “Aerodynamics is one of the most expensive developments. It doesn’t make things more exciting, it just makes all the bikes look the same. In the past, Yamaha had advantages in fast corners, Ducati in top speed, and Suzuki in braking. Today, that mix no longer exists. We are witnessing clone wars,” said Stoner.
The increasing stability at the rear also poses dangers: “If you lose control of the rear wheel, you shift the risk to the front wheel. The accidents we are seeing now are worse than anything I have experienced in the past.”
Safety versus technology – a deceptive calculation
While MotoGP officials justify further development with safety arguments, Stoner vehemently disagrees. “I don’t see that the bikes have become safer. If you lose your fear of the bike, you just push harder on the front. That leads to worse crashes.“ The increasing speeds on the straights also exacerbate the situation: ”The faster the bikes, the tighter the limit when braking. That’s why we see so many accidents where bikes hit the track barriers at full speed.”
Criticism of the sprint format
In addition to the technology, Stoner also criticized the sprint format established in 2023. The shortened races on Saturday would dilute the character of the world championship. “The main race is the core of the championship. It’s that long for a reason. Today, it’s all about setting a fast qualifying time. There’s no time left for tuning the bike. This makes the races more boring and reduces the opportunities for overtaking.”
Looking ahead to 2027 and comparing with Formula 1
Stoner is also critical of the new regulations from 2027, which, among other things, ban ride height devices and are intended to restrict aerodynamics. He fears that the bikes will become lighter and slower at top speed, but at the same time shorter braking zones will result – which could further restrict overtaking maneuvers.
In comparison, Stoner drew a surprisingly positive conclusion for Formula 1: “They have solved many problems that MotoGP is only just beginning to address. In Formula 1, you see more racing than in our series, even though the cars are huge and heavy. In MotoGP, we see fewer exciting battles than we used to.”
Call for clear leadership
At the end of his broadside, Stoner questioned those responsible. “We need a sensible person to say: This is ridiculous, we don’t need this. Instead, it seems as if decisions are simply waved through.” In his opinion, aerodynamics in particular should have been scrapped long ago, as it drives up costs and offers little added value.
When asked if he himself could exert any influence, Stoner replied sarcastically: “Of course not. I’m too honest.”
Conclusion: Casey Stoner made his return to the MotoGP paddock with clear words. His criticism is directed at a development that, in his opinion, pushes the rider into the background and leads the sport in a problematic direction. For him, the motto is: less technology, more riding skill.
