Anyone who says Stoner only won because he had the fastest bike is deluding themselves. If that was the case, Caparossi would have been vying for the top spot week in and week out with Stoner all of last season but he wasn't anywhere to be seen for most of it.

And the first race this season just backs that up. Melandri comes highly regarded as being a very fast rider and he was so far back on an equal machine that he wasn't even tasting the dust kicked up by Stoner. Further more, Rossi's tyre excuse got blown out the window as well with his switch to Bridgestone and relatively poor result.

And anyone who says they wouldn't be more than slightly annoyed at all the other manufacturers for trying to get the rules changed to bring Stoner back to the field, (I say Stoner, not his bike because his team mates sure aren't in need of handicapping), is not being honest with themselves.

Stoner is a good kid and a good rider. He has never shown disrepect to his rivals so show him some.

Chris, Kalgoorlie,

Part of the issue is his age. Winning the championship at age 21 is an incredible feat, but Casey still looks to be 16 years old. It is not surprising that other MotoGP riders are slow to give him the "respect" he wants, when he looks to be a boy. In a few years' time, that will subside. But also, for him to be complaining to the press at this point is a bit hollow, and it is precisely his youth that is blinding him to the fact that just because you win a championship doesn't necessarily mean that how other riders view you will change overnight, and that they will immediately talk about you as they would another champion sage. Unrealistic. The respect will come with time, but Casey apparently hasn't realized that yet. As long as he puts his head down and wins, he will find his place. Until that time, his wisdom needs to catch up with his talent. He is a great rider and will certainly go on winning.

Aaron, San Luis Obispo, California

Casey Stoner is a whinging spoilt brat, maybe the accolades will come when he grows up and stops mouthing off. He needs to remember, if you want respect you need to give respect.. And as for saying Valentino doesn't speak to him or give him the credit he thinks he deserves, I have yet to read an article where Valentino shows any disdain for Casey , It seems that Casey is the one showing disdain for Valentino. I don't care how good a rider Casey might or might not be, but in the attitude department he has a lot of growing up to do. As for Valentino he has nothing to prove, he is already a seven time World Champion who deserves the credit and respect he is given.GO VALE GO...No 46 forever

Jackie, Sydney, Australia

Methinks RuthR6 from MN needs to go take a closer look at the 2006 results. Stoner was consistently fast and competing at the front. Yea he crashed a few too many times but he was solo rider on a satelite team. Speed was clearly there. Wake up.

Alex, San Francisco, CA

Stoner, as usual, is the one doing the whinging -- why can't he just be happy he won the championship -- the vast majority of people have given him credit for it ( including virtually all the riders, Rossi included). Whenever someone wins in the way stoner did there will be people who say it wasn't down to talent etc -- Rossi had it when he was on a Honda and also during the time he has worked with Burgess ( he's winning cos he's with Burgess etc) -- Hayden had it last year --- but neither of these 2 whinge on about it like Stoner does. It just seems to me he's got a massive chip on his shoulder about something and an attitude of "they're all out to get me" which just doesn't come across too well. Wonder what we'll get the first time he wins in 2008, another whinge about how he's not getting any recognition or perhaps, perish the thought, modesty and humility in victory -- you should try it Casey, people might like you more ... ..

ade, manchester,

For heavens sake he's a motorbike racer, what does it matter how he can express himself to the media if he can consistently get on the top step of the Moto GP podium? He obviously can communicate successfully with his race engineers, which is all that matters!

Douglas, Burton, UK

Casey Stoner is a punk that has no respect for riders that have been racing in the top echelon of motorcycling before him. Just the disrepect to the likes of Valentino Rossi is enough to show how immature he is. Yes he had a great year but it was also the same year that was plagued by DNF's by the likes of the top riders. I would of loved to see Stoner race a few years ago when Rossi and Gibernau were battling for the title. He wouldn't even been in the top 5 that year. If you look at his first year in MotoGP on the Honda satellite team he was terrible and now all of a sudden he's so great that he can disrespect a 7 times world champion? His Ducati was far superior to all the Japanese machines when the cc's where dropped down to 800 from 990. That is the ONLY reason he did so well. Rossi did him one better by winning 11 races with better competition that year. Stoner needs to shut his stupid, immature mouth before he really gets himself in trouble with Rossi.

RRuthR6, Minneapolis, MN

I think stoner is frustrated little bit right now. infact he is benefitting from TCS and huge power of ducati engine. It is up to yamaha to work hard and bring that much power to their M1. Now rossi got the same tyre. I thing all the bikes should be free from TCS next season onwards to see a good rider.

anil, kochi, india

Got too hand it to Casey. While the Ducati was fast, where was Loris Capirossi? Where is Marcos Melandri? He thought he'd scored big when he got the ride but so far has been terrible on it in testing. We'll see how it goes but I have to say (and I'm a big Rossi fan) that Stoner is the real deal and will be a force to be reconed with.

Steve Z, Machiasport, Maine

Casey Stoner is a natural talent. I first saw him race when he was 15 riding a Honda 125 at Mallory Park . I came away from that meeting telling everyone I knew that I had just seen the new Valentino. It was as obvious to me then as it had been years earlier when I first saw a young Valentino , ride in the Spanish Ducados series, that I had seen a future World Champion.
It was interesting to read the independant tests of the 2007 MotoGP bikes which concluded that the Yamaha was at least as good as the Ducati and in fact easier to ride.
So give Casey the praise he deserves but never forget the brilliance of Valentino.

Tony Gillam, Darlington, UK

But then his job is that of a motorcycle racer, I don't want to listen to a bunch of the same PR schooled lines being spewed forth constantly. An interview is meant to give an insight into the man and Stoner does that. His use of fillers and colloquialism shouldn't detract from what he says in the slightest. Would the "it was the bike/tyres/electronics, not Stoner" brigade change their tune if he developed a more formal style of speach? I think not.

He doesn't have the same soundbite button that Hayden has, but it just gives him a bit more character, something which is lacking in so many other motorsports.

James, England,

This guy is pure genius, he'll be great riding any bike as time will tell. If only we had someone like him.

Bob Pratt, Almeria, Spain

Well, he did continuously have the fastest bike down the straights, and by some, according to the recorded speeds. He should accept that he had an advantage. Scumacher managed this in F1.

Both MotoGP and F1 have painted themselves into a corner when it comes to a real competition between riders/drivers, there is now too much disparity in the mechanical performance of the bikes/cars.

John, Sussex,

Casey Stoner is a fantastic rider. he destroyed very fancied opposition last year and blew away his team mate on every occasion but one.
He would get a lot more respect if he learnt how to present himself a bit better. Seriously, if you compare his off track performances to those of NASCAR drivers, and to a lesser extent Formula one it is cringe worthy. It has nothing to do with his on boke performance, but people would be much more prepared to listen to him and take him seriously if he didn't say ya'know five times a sentence.
He is the best rider on the worlds coolest bike, the barbs and lack of 'credit' will come if he learns to articulate a lot better.

Howard, Tokyo,

go stoner go an dbeat them!

anthony, chelmsford, Uk