Stoner surprised to be back on top so soon

MotoGP News

Date: 12/06/2011

Despite winning his fourth race of the season in the British MotoGP at Silverstone, Casey Stoner couldn’t help but wonder how big his title lead would be if he hadn’t been taken-out at Jerez.

Stoner's Silverstone victory made him the first Honda rider to win three races in a row since Valentino Rossi in 2003 and put him back into the world championship lead by 18 points over Yamaha's Jorge Lorenzo.

Stoner is looking ever more like the rider Honda has been searching for since Rossi's shock exit at the end of 2003, but he played down the historical significance of his hat-trick. 

"I think the significance for me is just winning three races in a row for myself," said the Australian. "I think Honda have been capable of a lot in the past few seasons and maybe a bit of luck has not gone their way and made things difficult.

"We feel very happy with the way the bike is working at the moment. To come away with three wins in a row is perfect."

It had been a mistake by Rossi, during a fumbled overtake at round two in Spain, that left Stoner on the asphalt and out of the race.

"It could have been a very big championship lead by now, if we hadn’t missed out on what I think would have been a definite podium at Jerez," said Stoner, the 2007 world champion for Ducati.

"So to already be back on top of the championship, after missing a race, is fantastic for us. I can’t thank the team enough. We've all stayed focused and tried to do our best race-by-race. So far everything is working."

Stoner also won three consecutive races twice as a Ducati rider, and will be seeking to break new ground with four-in-a-row at Assen on June 25, the seventh round of the championship.

"I'm looking forward to Assen because I think the Honda is going to work quite well for us. Some weakness we've had in the past [with Ducati] I think [the Honda] can cover and that gives us confidence to try and win another race," he said.

Stoner, who races with the #27, has now won 27 MotoGP races since his premier-class debut in 2006.