Casey Stoner says MotoGP’s Euro bias led to Remy Gardner’s dumping after just one year

Son of a gun Remy Gardner was meant to be Australia’s next MotoGP star but, former world champ Casey Stoner says, he is a victim of the sport’s European bias.

Two-time MotoGP champion Casey Stoner has slammed the sport for its European bias which he says was to blame for Aussie rookie Remy Gardner being dumped after just one season.

Stoner said Gardner, 24, had copped a “massively raw deal” after winning the Moto2 title in 2021.

The Tech 3 KTM team will let Gardner go after a difficult season but the Spain-based Australian has secured a ride with Yamaha in the World Superbike series for 2023.

But Stoner, who quit the sport in 2012, said Gardner, son of 1987 world 500cc champion Wayne, was the victim of teams wanting Spanish and Italian riders and that his parachute deal into WSBK was not ideal.

“I don’t think it’s a good result. It’s shameful that in MotoGP where he comes in as Moto2 World Champion and he’s been beating his teammate (Raul Fernandez) pretty much all year long. And his teammate gets a ride (in 2023) and he doesn’t.”

Remy Gardner, 2022 Tech 3 KTM MotoGP rider, Picture: Rob Gray (Polarity Photo)

Stoner made his comments as MotoGP returns to Phillip Island next weekend after a three-year hiatus. The now 36-year-old won at the island six years in row, from 2007 to 2012.

But after time away he is still concerned about the European bias of the world championship.

“There’s probably 11 to 14 Spanish writers in the championship next year and it’s going to be five or six, seven Italians and then one Japanese, one Aussie and two Frenchmen.

“You know where I’m going with this.

“Yes, understandably, you’ve got to have the talent to go there but when you’ve got somebody with the talent and all of sudden they still don’t get the opportunity, I really don’t think that’s fair.

“It’s a big issue that I’ve had with MotoGP for many years now is that is very much is a European Championship, and it’s very, very hard to keep slogging away. And when you keep getting raw deals.’’

Gardner had a tough first season in MotoGP.

Gardner fell out of favour with the Tech 3 team in part after his outspokenness about the KTM’s poor performance earlier in the year. At one stage, he described the bike as “unrideable”.

The Aussie has finished 15 of the 17 races this year, his best result an 11th at Catalunya.

Also, Ducati’s desire to have an all-Italian line-up for the factory team was seen by many as a reason for Australian Jack Miller leaving the Bologna-based team.

Miller was only ever given one-year contracts during his five years with Ducati and this week said he often felt like an outsider, the language barrier adding to the problem.

The in-form Queenslander, who is fifth in the championship, has signed with the factory KTM team for 2023.

Miller finished third in the last race at Phillip Island in 2019 when Honda’s Marc Marquez took the chequered flag.

The King returns - Casey’s island secrets

For someone who was the undisputed King of the Island, Casey Stoner has kept his distance.

The Aussie MotoGP great ruled Phillip Island in a six-year golden period from 2007 to 2012 when he was untouchable.

In a sport where margins are measured in fractions of seconds, he was almost in another time zone.

His last triumph in 2012 was by more than nine seconds from Jorge Lorenzo who, until he crossed he bridge at San Remo, was virtually unbeatable all year.

Casey Stoner ruled the Phillip Island between 2007 and 2012.

Stoner will make a long-awaited return to the island next weekend for the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix.

Ten years ago, at age 27, he walked away disillusioned with the sport and eager to spend time with his young family.

Stoner is still regarded as one of those riders who operate on another level. Think Valentino Rossi or Marc Marquez or even Mick Doohan. True greats, fearless and talented.

Yet when asked about his favourite island victory, Stoner brushes it off. A bit like your kids, you can’t have a favourite.

Two-time MotoGP champion Casey Stoner (left) and former motorcycle racer Chris Vermuelen on Gardner Straight at Phillip Island.

“I just can’t really pick one – each is special in its own way. And for different reasons. So I wouldn’t really say any one of them is more important than the other.’’

But he then reflects on one perfect day in 2011.

“So winning a championship, in your home Grand Prix, on your birthday, my fifth in a row there. So I suppose that moment would have to be the most special.”

Stoner hasn’t been back for the GP except for a Honda celebration event with Wayne Gardner and Mick Doohan in 2013.

He did however recently ride down to the island with mate and former racer Chris Vermuelen and they even did a relaxed lap of the famous 4.445km track.

“It was a little bit surreal to be honest.’

“Phillip Island – one of the challenges is that it’s always difficult and part of the reason I love it is because you get four seasons in a day.

“But it absolutely turned it on for us and you know there was barely any wind it was beautiful blue skies.

Casey Stoner of Australia saluyes his fans after the 2012 Australian MotoGP at Phillip Island.

“To have the whole track yourself and nothing else around. It was a very special moment that I had with the track and actually had the time to smell the roses while riding around it.

“All I’ve done is go quick around that joint.

“So it was it was a very special time to be honest.’’

Remarkably, Stoner is still only 36 – he turns 37 on race day next weekend and is just two weeks older than Brit Cal Crutchlow who has returned to racing this season.

Still, Stoner doesn’t pine for racing or reliving past glories, and is somewhat ambivalent when asked about how he might feel with the bike line up on the starting grid on Gardner Straight.

“It’s not my race anymore, it doesn’t matter what happens. I’m there to enjoy the race like everyone else.’’

He believes the race itself is open, because of the circuit’s challenges.

“Things are getting a little interesting now in the championship. It’s going to be a very, very critical race.’’

Casey Stoner leads the field during the 2012 Australian MotoGP race.

“Anyone can win from Pecco (Bagnaia), Jack (Miller), Quartararo and if it’s wet you will have Oliveira or Brad Binder coming into it.

“I believe the Aprilias have worked well around there. It just depends on the day.’’

Miller’s recent form of a win in Japan and a second in Thailand is great to see, Stoner said, but the 40-point gap to Quartararo will be too much.

“It’s nice to see him get some form but everything really has to go this way and really against the other riders. But you never know.’’

The Australian round is the third-last of the year, to be followed by Malaysia and Valencia.

The key to the island is getting the bike right, not just speed, he said.

“For me, it’s around tyres and depending on what the conditions are going to be, hot or cold and whether you’re going to run a soft or hard tyre.

Six of the best. Stoner dominated his home race for six straight years.

“So it’s really focusing massively on set-up rather than just trying to get out-and-out speed because I feel outright speed at that joint you will actually just burn through tyres. And you won’t be a factor in the race.’’

Phillip Island is, nor surprise, Stoner’s favourite track as it is for many riders down the years.

“Definitely, that and Mugello and Brno in the Czech Republic, they’re my three favourites by far.

“It’s always been standout but it wasn’t so much when I was on the smaller categories.

“I actually didn’t enjoy it at all. It was too fast, too wide open and when you don’t have a fast bike, it’s just a long, hard weekend.

“I much prefer being on the big bikes being able to slide it.

“Yeah, the faster the better for me on a motorbike.’’

Originally published as Casey Stoner says MotoGP’s Euro bias led to Remy Gardner’s dumping after just one year