STONER SAYS PHILLIP ISLAND DEMANDS CONSTANT RISK MANAGEMENT

Casey Stoner’s six straight MotoGP victories at Phillip Island, from 2007 to 2012, made the Australian circuit a defining part of his career. Yet the former champion says success never made it a place where he could switch off.

Speaking to fellow Australian Chris Vermeulen in a YouTube interview ahead of Phillip Island’s final Australian Grand Prix, Stoner explained that the circuit’s character suited his riding. Its high speeds and low grip let the bike move and slide, he said, recalling the dirt-track riding he grew up with. That helped him find his rhythm, although the track did not come naturally at first: he said he did not enjoy it in the 125cc class, and, despite becoming quick there on a 250, he threw away his chance in 2005. He took a couple of years to get comfortable on the bigger bikes.

The technical demands remained formidable. In MotoGP, Stoner said, putting the power down and making tyres last through the race were major challenges. More than anything, Phillip Island required constant risk management. A small mistake could have immediate consequences: “That place can bite you so quickly,” he said, describing how a rider could suddenly find himself in the gravel at around 200km/h, wondering what had gone wrong. At the Miller hairpin, he added, the front could disappear in an instant, even when a rider felt he had changed nothing from the previous lap.

Stoner said he was never able to relax at the circuit. His focus was always on finding speed without taking unnecessary risks, despite appearances that he was comfortable there. Wind made the fast sections especially unpredictable, including when it struck from the side through Turn 3—named in his honour—or Turn 1, known as Doohan.

“It’s a brutal track if you get it a little bit wrong but so rewarding when you get it right,” Stoner said.

The interview previews the final Australian MotoGP round at Phillip Island before Adelaide takes over as host in 2027. Practice was due to begin on Friday, with the forecast calling for sunshine that day and showers and cooler conditions over the weekend.