Stoner to ride out season for GP9 test
Added on Tuesday, October 7th, 2008 by Carole Nash Editor
Stoner to ride out season for GP9 test
Casey Stoner is set to see out the 2008 MotoGP season after the decision to test the Desmosedici GP9 at Valencia.
Stoner, who claimed a confidence-boosting win at his home Grand Prix on Sunday, was tipped to end the season early to undergo surgery to fix a troublesome scaphoid injury and ensure that he would be fully recovered in time for the start of the 2009 season.
But the Australian, almost certainly ruled out of the majority of pre-season testing as a result of surgery, has decided to persevere with the 2008 season despite the injury and losing the world championship just over a week ago in order to test the 2009 generation Ducati.
“(the Valencia test) is the only reason that we are continuing with the season” Stoner claimed to MotoGP.com, having previously rode the GP9 at a post-race test held in Catalunya.
“We need to test that bike again, because there is going to be a three month period in which I can´t test, and the technicians will need as much information as they can get. If I´m going to ride after the race at Valencia then I may as well take part in these last two races. If it gets impossible to ride then we´ll stop and get the operation, but right now it looks like we can finish the season.”
The decision means that the 22-year-old will also ride at the penultimate race in Sepang in two weeks time and Stoner is determined to secure a second-place finish in the championship – an achievement that will be guaranteed with a top-three finish in Sepang or any finish ahead of third-placed Dani Pedrosa.
“We´ve got two races to go, and things need to go right for us to confirm second place in the World Championship,” added Stoner. “I´ve been thinking a lot lately, and to have second place by your name in this championship is something to look back and be proud of when you´ve retired. We´re making the best of my career, and I think that we can be back fighting for the title next year.”
