Casey Stoner casts doubt on legitimacy of 2020 world title race

Two-time MotoGP champion Casey Stoner says the 2020 title race has been seriously compromised suggesting this year’s championship is not the real deal.

SPIELBERG, AUSTRIA - JULY 19: Casey Stoner of Australia looks on in the box during the first day of MotoGP Tests In Zwelteg at Red Bull Ring on July 19, 2016 in Spielberg, Austria. (Photo by Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images)

Australian MotoGP great Casey Stoner has declared that this year’s shortened, Europe-based championship is not the real deal.

The two-time world champ also said Honda star Marc Marquez’s absence through injury meant no one was out there setting the standard, resulting in three first-time winners in just five MotoGP races.

Stoner’s comments come as riders head to Misano for two races on successive weekends, followed by seven more GPs in France, Spain and Portugal.

“Calling it a world championship is a little bit difficult this year,’’ Stoner told the In The Fast Lane podcast.

Holding two races at the same circuit favoured those who were suited by the track, he said.

“And not really travelling around the world, creating a world championship is something I’m not a massive fan of.’’

Casey Stoner (right) said the absence of Marc Marquez (left) has left the competition with a leader to set the standards.

The Australian GP at Phillip Island, originally scheduled for October 25, was cancelled in May, one of seven non-European events called off.

The schedule has been scaled back to 14 rounds, instead of 20.

Frenchman Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) leads the title race with 70 points, just three ahead of Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati) and then Aussie Jack Miller (Ducati) on 56 points.

Stoner said not having world champion Marquez racing had thrown a different complexion on the competition.

Marquez, the eight-time world champion, broke his upper right arm in practice at Jerez on July 26.

Australian Jack Miller of Pramac Racing is currently third in the title race.

“Without Marc there, quite honestly, there’s no leader at the moment, and you see that by the results by the people that are standing on the top step of the podium.

“Marc was a clear leader and took that championship to another level.

“When I was there it was myself, Valentino (Rossi), Jorge (Lorenzo) and Dani (Pedrosa) always at the front stretching the field out,’’ he said.

Stoner, now 34, won the world title in 2007 with Ducati and in 2011 with Honda before retiring at the end of 2012.

He said the field did not have Marquez consistently setting the standard.

“Because this season’s condensed, two races at each circuit they feel like if they got a half decent result one week, they’re going to be okay for the next week.

“It’s a very, very different championship and it’s sort of upsetting the mix in a lot of ways.’’

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Originally published as Casey Stoner casts doubt on legitimacy of 2020 world title race