Casey Stoner Opens Up: ‘Hurt’ by British Fans and the Pressures of MotoGP

Casey Stoner: "I was deeply affected by the British fans' reactions, and I couldn't comprehend their animosity towards me."

"I felt completely devastated. It was baffling to me what I had done to deserve such hatred."

Casey Stoner has opened up about the challenging receptions he experienced from British fans during his peak years in MotoGP.

Spectators at Donington Park jeered at Stoner following his victories in the British MotoGP events in 2007 and 2008.

During his second tenure as the MotoGP champion, Stoner expressed frustration, questioning the reasons behind the fans' harsh treatment of the riders.

Before achieving major success, Stoner competed in races in the UK and was living near Liverpool while pursuing his aspirations.

He has now shared details about his unusual interactions with fans in the UK.

"The British supporters really upset me," Stoner mentioned on the Ducati Diaries podcast.

"I couldn't understand the reason for their intense dislike towards me."

“Things weren't going well even before I competed against Valentino Rossi.

"Once I confronted Valentino, everything started to deteriorate."

"It's unusual. Many other Australian drivers gained their early experience in the United Kingdom."

"If it hadn't been for the UK, I wouldn't have achieved what I did. Many of my closest friends are from the UK, from the time I spent there. I hold very dear memories of that place."

"When I came back, I was heavily criticized. I couldn't grasp what I had done wrong."

In the UK, audiences preferred a performance or a charismatic presenter. I simply stated the facts, whether they were positive or negative. Clearly, many people were not fond of this approach.

"MotoGP made me more reserved."

Stoner clinched the championship riding a Ducati in 2008, which was his second season in the top category.

At only 23, he claimed that the intense demands of MotoGP had altered who he was. Famously, he stepped away from the sport at the young age of 28 in 2012.

"I've turned into an introvert," Stoner mentioned. "I used to spend a lot of time outdoors, always eager to meet new people."

"I continued to face challenges, particularly when I was in bigger groups where I never felt at ease."

"However, MotoGP specifically made me become more introverted."

"When you're subjected to various insults and immense pressure, you feel like retreating into your own safe space."

"The impact was felt quickly. I changed from a person who enjoyed being social to someone who preferred isolation."

Stoner claimed that the media's portrayal of him was negative.

"I wasn't being unfriendly. It was just a difficult period," he explained. "The media and everyone else were opposing me."

"At that time, I didn't possess the bold personality everyone was expecting."

"Additionally, people genuinely misunderstood my intentions. I wasn't participating just for the thrill of racing. The outcomes were crucial, not the pleasure derived from it."

"You end up facing criticism no matter what you do. I'm also very hard on myself. It felt like a series of defeats. It was a significant burden on me."

"It wasn't until my older years that I understood I could ease the burden on myself. I had already accomplished everything, and I should take pride in my achievements."

"I think that in a profession where we are compensated so well and expected to deliver outcomes, it isn't appropriate to simply go out and enjoy ourselves."

"If you’re only enjoying yourself, you're not making the effort. This leads to irregularities."

"I was critical of myself. Even after winning races, if I made errors or felt dissatisfied with my performance, I believed there was still room for improvement and more potential to unlock."

"That's where I received negative media coverage."

"They criticize you more because you didn't celebrate these victories the way they wanted. They expect you to treat every win as if it were a championship celebration."

"Perhaps I didn't honor them to the same extent that others typically do."

Check out this Instagram post from Casey Stoner AM (@official_cs27)

This post is shared by Casey Stoner AM (@official_cs27)

Over time, I have come to understand that Stoner's character was completely different from the flamboyant Rossi.

In 2007 and 2008, they took turns winning

Stoner went on to secure the 2011 championship with Honda and decided to retire after competing for just one more season.

"I definitely wouldn't alter a thing," he stated.

"Over the years, I've developed a better ability to express myself clearly."

“I would be more willing to consider different ways to frame certain questions or to clarify things in another manner.”

"After spending a few years competing for MotoGP championships, I decided to push myself to improve the way I interacted with others. I began to assess each person individually, whether they were my rivals or members of the media."

"I understood how to handle every one of them on an individual basis."

"I won't alter my personality. I continue to speak frankly. Perhaps, I'm a bit gentler than I was before."

"However, that approach is what led me to my current position. I was straightforward and didn't sugarcoat anything. Every statement I made was my own honest opinion."

“I faced consequences for my actions. The press was harsh in their coverage of me. What the media publishes influences the fans, leading to widespread negativity towards me.”

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