Casey Stoner claimed the 2011 MotoGP championship at a canter.
The 26-year-old won 10 races on his Repsol Honda to storm to his second title, and he's going to start the recent campaign in Qatar as favourite to make it three championships in six years.
- Bike: Repsol Honda
- MotoGP titles: 2007, 2011
- MotoGP wins: 33
- Odds: Evens
Stoner has got probably the most amazing balance and pure ability to ride a bike. I spent various time on the recent test in Jerez out on the trackside watching him up close.
He pushes himself greater than anyone else. He's so driven. He uses more track, more kerb, more lean angle than anyone else available in the market in the meanwhile. Because the saying goes, he rides it like he stole it.
He absolutely brings everything out of the bike and out of himself. He's very hard on himself besides - he beats himself up about any mistake he makes.
Stoner has this reputation for being slightly dull and cold but thats not the case in any respect. He's very lively; hes a smiley, cheeky young man at heart.
But he does say what he thinks - maybe thats the Australian in him - and that could rub people up the opposite direction.
i've an immense amount of respect for him through his skill at riding a motorbike - but he wont have all of it his own way, there are others out to forestall him.
Jorge Lorenzo
The 2010 champion is an intelligent man, he analyses and thinks a lot about what's going on.
- Bike: Yamaha
- MotoGP titles: 2010
- MotoGP wins: 17
- Odds: 7/2
The best way I see this championship is a hare and a tortoise type situation. Jorge may be the tortoise as i believe he's going to be very, very solid this year. He wont win as many races as Casey, but he'll amass numerous points. The Yamaha looks to have made a leap forward.
Watching him at Jerez, Jorge didnt look anything just like the second fastest man available. He looked very smooth, very calculated.
That usually bodes well because it didnt appear to be he was at the limit. He keeps squeezing the proper out of everything hes got.
Lorenzos team-mate Ben Spies thinks he has the pace to challenge on the very front, but I havent seen it from him yet. He has to win races this year, he was told that by his bosses, and a minimum of he has to be at the podium week-in, week out.
The issue he has there's that he has to complete above one of the crucial other three main runners, which wont be easy.
Dani Pedrosa
- Bike: Repsol Honda
- MotoGP titles: None
- MotoGP wins: 15
- Odds: 5/1
Little Dani has an abundance of everything. He has spirit in his riding, speed, talent - he has each of the ingredients to be World Champion.
My only concern is that he's so fragile. Not mentally, its physical as a result of his size. Hes only about 5ft 2ins tall and eight stone.
In lots of ways in which has helped him throughout his career as he's loads lighter than many of the other riders, but he doesnt bounce in addition to them if he does come off and has missed a number of races through injury.
The move to the 1,000s will affect him greater than the opposite riders because the excess weight is more of a problem, but I always see Dani winning a number of races. When he wakes up within the right mood and everything is running smoothly for him he's as fast as anyone.
Valentino Rossi
Im still very worried about Valentino Rossi. Somethings not gelling, and Im not too sure whether its the bike or him.
No-one ever desires to point the finger at Valentino Rossi but I dont think hes the rider he was three years ago. Its hard to maintain the drive and the hearth on your belly that you have when you're younger. Hes now 33-years-old and that i wonder whether he still wants it.
- Bike: Ducati
- MotoGP titles: 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009
- MotoGP wins: 79
- Odds: 10/1
He broke his leg badly two years ago, he had a lot of crashes last year and it affects you. I went through it in my very own career. i began off blaming the tyres, then the bike, then the mechanics and everything but myself. Its hard because once you do start doubting yourself it snowballs, but eventually it is advisable confront it and thats the suitable time to retire.
The Ducati is nearer this year, theyve fine tuned it to fit Rossi but Ill be very surprised if he's at the podium this year that is a true shame. Theres no bigger fan than me, hes been so good for the game but Im nearly embarrassed for him now.
I dont think hell be mixing it with front guys and he must be because he's in that class. His wings had been clipped. Hes not the identical Rossi weve all loved and admired over the past 15 years.
Among the things that he did were remarkable, he had that amazing ability to tug results out in the event you thought he was finished. He came back stronger and higher repeatedly but Im unsure he can ever try this again.
Watch the trailer for the BBCs coverage of the 2012 MotoGP season. (UK only)
From WhatNewsToday.net
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