STONER PICKS MARQUEZ OVER ROSSI IN MOTOGP GREATNESS DEBATE

Casey Stoner has chosen Marc Marquez over Valentino Rossi in a comparison he says is inherently difficult because the two stars competed in different eras.

Asked to take part in a “winner stays on” challenge by Italy’s Gazzetta dello Sport, Stoner first selected Jorge Lorenzo ahead of a series of other riders. Marquez was the one who eventually displaced Lorenzo, setting up the question of whether he or Rossi was the greater rider.

“It’s difficult,” Stoner said. “It’s different eras, so it’s impossible. But you can’t argue with Marc at the moment.” Stoner also acknowledged that Marquez’s career achievements exceed his own. Asked to choose between himself and the Spaniard, he replied: “I would have to say Marc. He’s done more in his career than me.” Stoner added that he believes he could beat Marquez at Phillip Island, his home circuit, but did not use that confidence to claim superiority overall.

The Australian retired in 2012, before Marquez arrived in MotoGP, so he never raced against him. Stoner and Rossi, by contrast, shared the premier-class grid for seven seasons. Rossi finished runner-up to Stoner in the Australian’s 2007 title campaign, then took the championship himself the following year.

Marquez is pursuing a possible eighth premier-class crown this season, which would move him past Rossi and level him with Giacomo Agostini’s all-time record. The prospect is especially striking after Marquez fell more than 100 points behind following an injury that forced him to miss two races. Despite not being fully fit, he has won six Grands Prix this year, taking his career total to 79.

Rossi remains ahead in the all-time statistics cited in the report: Marquez needs 10 more Grand Prix victories to match Rossi’s 89, while Rossi’s 199 premier-class podiums remain well clear of Marquez’s 132. Whether Marquez will race long enough to catch him in the podium standings is uncertain.