Aussie champ silences ‘crasher’ critics

MELBOURNE: Australia's new world motorcycling champion Casey Stoner said yesterday he was looking forward to enjoying his home Grand Prix this weekend after silencing critics who called him a “crasher.”

The 21-year-old ace told a news conference in Melbourne attended by some 500 fans that he had been stung by criticism over the number of crashes he had in his career from people such as former Aussie world champion Wayne Gardner.

Thanks: MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner receives a drawing from a young fan during a meeting in Melbourne yesterday. – AFP

“The last few years I felt a little bit of pressure from people calling me a crasher and all these sorts of things when they really didn't understand what was going on,” Stoner said.

“It sort of frustrated me a little bit, and also scared me – the fact I didn't want to crash each race so people couldn't say things about it.

“I think I've silenced a lot of people about me,” said the young star, who stayed upright all year while winning eight out of 14 races and sealing the world title two weeks ago in Japan with three rounds remaining.

Stoner credited the Ducati team he joined this season for helping him to the title in just his second year in MotoGP.

“With the right package and the right team behind you, things can be sorted out.”

He goes into the race at Phillip Island this weekend knowing that thousands of fans will be backing him to match Australia's previous two world champions, Gardner and Mick Doohan, who both won their home Grand Prix.

Opening practice begins on Friday for the race on Sunday. – AFP