Laguna Seca 2008: the decisive duel between Rossi and Stoner (video)

Valentino Rossi ‘s career in motorcycling has always been plagued by great opponents, whom the #46 has faced both on and off the track.

With some of them in particular, The Doctor experienced some episodes of particularly strong rivalry, and among them is the 2008 United States Grand Prix. The Laguna Seca race is probably the one that best illustrates the fierce rivalry between the Italian driver and Casey Stoner.

In 2007, the Australian had been crowned world champion on his Ducati, breaking Rossi’s streak, and the one from Tavullia was seeking revenge, as well as regaining his throne.

Before landing at Laguna Seca, a track where only the premier class went, the Italian clung to the world championship lead, as Stoner had achieved three consecutive victories that had reduced the advantage he enjoyed.

Stoner continued his streak and dominated each and every one of the practice sessions, showing a clear advantage over the rest. However, in the race, the #46 took his talent for a walk.

Rossi latched onto the rear wheel of Stoner’s Ducati and they engaged in a fierce duel that overshadowed everything that was happening on the tarmac. They engaged in a battle whose climax came at the famous Corkscrew, a downhill chicane.

The one from Tavullia entered the dirt area inside the second corner to defend his position, in a maneuver that went down in MotoGP history, and he achieved his goal. The battle would end when Stoner snuck into a corner and landed in the gravel, but the sheer distance they had gained over their rivals meant the defending world champion was able to salvage second place.

Video: the fight Rossi – Stoner of Laguna Seca 2008

Stoner did not hesitate to denounce Rossi’s aggressiveness after the race, while the Italian decided to kiss the asphalt of the Corkscrew, where he had cemented a sporting victory, but also a moral one

Almost three decades later, Rossi continues to name this grand prix as his second favorite race, only behind Welkom in 2004, for allowing him to recover and the push it gave him for the second half of the season.

“In 2007 the person who was supposed to succeed me arrived, Casey Stoner, the new Valentino Rossi, who beat me with the Ducati. But then I made another bet, and I told Yamaha: ‘If you give me the Bridgestones, I’m going to fight him even if it’s younger’. Laguna Seca was my revenge against Stoner, the race that made me win the championship,” Rossi explained to La Gazzetta dello Sport .

“He was very fast from practice, he had dominated, he started from pole. That battle was a strong moment in my career.”

Stoner , for his part, also considers it a decisive episode.

“I learned a lot in 2008. I think I wouldn’t change a thing, I wouldn’t change that moment because it gave me a lot of motivation and strength for the rest of my career,” he explained in an interview for the Rusty’s Garage podcast.

“It could have weakened me, but instead it built me into a real shell, it toughened me up enormously. I learned to deal with everything and it really helped me for the next few years, because nothing could really affect me like it did at that time,” he confessed.

“From there, I had more respect for the drivers around me and I realized that if someone was a better driver than me that day, there was nothing I could do. I blamed myself, not someone else.”

Casey Stoner and Valentino Rossi in Parc Fermé

Aware of everything that Rossi generated from that confrontation, Stoner knew that he could become a source of motivation for the nine-time world champion. However, he does not regret anything he did.

“I think that rivalry disappeared in the last years that I raced, two or three years after that it was no more. The rivalry should never have started, Valentino was the one who started it. He did it with anyone who was competitive in front of him. You can be his best friend he can be super friendly with you but as soon as you start beating him he will try to break you because he knows he has the media and the whole world in his pocket and he can use it to make trouble he is very very smart about this and I have learned a lot with Valentino”.

“I think this rivalry really built me up for the rest of my life. I wouldn’t trade that moment for the world. It’s kind of funny that fans are still talking about that moment now. It never happened again. It’s the best thing that ever happened to me.” happen in my career.”

The Stoner-Rossi rivalry came to mutual respect, if not friendship

The rivalry between the two drivers had already faded by the time Stoner hung up his helmet at the end of 2012, and time gave way to a mutual respect, in the face of a lack of friendship.

“Stoner was a great, he has always ridden on the limit, even when the bike wasn’t perfect,” said Rossi , praising his former rival. “He was one of my great rivals, at the level of pure talent perhaps the strongest of all. He did impressive things during his career, even if it did not last long. It was difficult with Stoner, especially because his character is quite tough. We did not get along very well let’s say.”

Despite his early retirement, Stoner remains a MotoGP spectator and made it clear what he thought of Rossi’s decision to stay active in his 40s.

“I’m not surprised it continues,” the Australian said at the time. “I am surprised that he continues with the efforts involved. I have no doubt that he can be in the front, but I don’t see that the effort is rewarded. Not only are he beaten by riders from other brands, but also by some with the same bike and even smaller bikes.”

“I don’t know if he has a different approach or what. One thing Valentino has always been clear about is that he’s not going to be on a bike that he’s not happy with. I’m going to attack,'” he recalled.

“That’s where he and I were different. I’ve always gotten everything I could out of a bike and that’s what made me stay up front,” Stoner observed.

“He really needs to learn from these guys because they’re starting to get over him, and I don’t think he’s too old. I still think he can be up front and be competitive, but I think he needs to do things a little bit differently. I’d like to see that, I’d like to see that.” more people compete with Marc [Marquez], because no one is really close to him right now.

↓ Enjoy the best photos of the Rossi-Stoner duel in Laguna Seca ↓