While Chris Vermeulen is sitting out this weekend’s WSBK round in Valencia after undergoing keyhole surgery on his damaged right knee, the Aussie rider got around talking about friend Casey Stoner and his chances of snaring a second MotoGP title this year and why he might not just make it.
“I think it’s always going to be hard for him to win against the might of the big Japanese on a Ducati.
I think he’s one of the most talented riders out there.
He doesn’t care, he just gets on and twists the throttle and he does it very well”.
Ducati vs Japanese Bikes:“I hope for him that he’s up there challenging but I realistically think that Yamaha and Honda are going to be harder for Ducati to beat this year.
Ducati were really at an advantage when the 800cc came out even though Honda built the rules around it but the Japanese seem better at refining things and improving.
I’m not taking anything away from Ducati but they are much bigger manufacturers and the bike plays such a big role in MotoGP.
I don’t know what Ducati have got in the pipeline or anything but that’s what I’m seeing from outside.
”Stoner vs rivals:“I think Casey’s going to be in there with Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa, but whether he can actually have a chance at that championship we’ll have to wait and see.
I think the `07 bike was very good – not better than any other bike – but he adapted, but there were three or four other Ducatis out there that he beat as well, so you can’t take anything away from him.
But you have to make your own luck and your own opportunities and Ducati just got it perfect.
”
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