**Title:** “Casey Stoner Criticizes 2027 MotoGP Rules: ‘Ducati’s Advantage Will Grow, Racing Quality Will Decline’

Ducati will likely benefit from the MotoGP rules set for 2027, according to Casey Stoner. He believes their advantage over other teams will increase compared to the current situation.

The 2027 MotoGP regulations are anticipated to somewhat tackle a few of the issues that the championship is believed to be dealing with, but Casey Stoner remains notably skeptical.

Casey Stoner, who secured Ducati’s first MotoGP championship back in 2007, believes that the Italian brand will maintain its performance edge under the new rules.

During a discussion with Neil Hodgson on the Ducati Diaries podcast, Stoner expressed his belief that Ducati is essentially attempting to reinstate those regulations.

"They're aware that they'll have an edge in that scenario. Considering the fact that everyone already possesses significant power, Ducati still maintains a remarkable distinction. This difference will be even more pronounced when transitioning to a smaller engine displacement."

"They believe that the disparity will grow even wider than it currently is."

Stoner is worried not just about Ducati's potential to keep dominating, having already claimed victory in 10 of the first 11 races of 2024.

"When the braking areas become shorter, there will be fewer chances for overtaking," he mentioned.

Furthermore, cornering speed could increase, potentially reducing overtaking chances. Unlike the 125s, 250s, or Moto3 categories, where differences in acceleration create gaps between riders, the power in this context is sufficient to make overtaking more difficult. Therefore, I believe that opportunities for passing will become more limited.

"They have made some correct decisions regarding the removal of certain elements, like ride height devices, but the remaining changes fall short of the necessary standards.”

Stoner’s main worry about the MotoGP regulations set for 2027 is that they fail to tackle what he believes is a key problem in the existing rules: the technology is becoming overly sophisticated.

"They still seem like Formula 1 cars but with two wheels," remarked the two-time MotoGP World Champion. "We have traction control, wheelie control, and other features that Formula 1 lacks."

"I recognize that bicycles must move forward to some extent, but there comes a moment when they need to halt."

According to Stoner, technological progress makes it more difficult for riders to demonstrate their skills.

"I’m interested in witnessing the skill of these riders. I want to view a slow-motion replay and, rather than seeing winglets bending, I’d prefer to see the riders managing slides, controlling wheelies, and discovering traction in places where it seems impossible. That’s the essence and the real challenge of the sport."

According to Stoner, motorcycles ought to be made harder to operate rather than more user-friendly.

Many individuals frequently express grievances regarding motocross bikes, arguing that the 450cc models possess excessive power. Similar complaints are made about MotoGP bikes, labeling them as overly powerful and too large. However, he emphasized that the essence of the sport lies in mastering the ability to control such power.

“They’re discussing these electric bikes, saying ‘they’re so much simpler to ride’ — well, I’m not interested. I don’t want something that’s easy to handle; I want something challenging. It’s when the traction goes away and riding becomes more difficult that you should really pay attention to what people can do.

“We’re currently witnessing a championship that’s less about showcasing talent and more about engineers minimizing the riders’ roles. The goal seems to be reaching a stage where almost any rider can perform competitively.”

"Basically, it becomes similar to Formula One, where the car you drive plays a bigger role than the driver's skill—in MotoGP, this applies to the rider. Witnessing this trend is quite difficult for me."

"I want to witness the top cyclists tackling the most challenging bikes, not because they are simple to handle. In fact, I prefer them to be even more difficult to ride, pushing the riders to excel despite the challenges."

According to Stoner, when riders can't showcase their skills effectively, it negatively impacts the overall quality of the races.

Stoner likened the nature of today's MotoGP races to that of AMA Supercross, noting that in both, contact between competitors is a basic element due to the confined stadium tracks and restricted options for racing lines.

"We're beginning to observe this type of racing in MotoGP," Stoner remarked. "Riders are noticing openings and seizing the opportunity."

"It boils down to a mindset that I find extremely childish, which is the idea of winning no matter what."

"I really dislike that mindset. When you pause to consider what's being said or what someone is prepared to do, it's, in my view, the absolute worst: essentially admitting 'I can't win on my own, so I'll resort to any means necessary to achieve it.'"

Stoner admitted that incidental contact is inevitable in racing, but expressed that deliberately trying to remove another racer or recklessly ignoring the possibility of a collision just to secure a position on the track is, in his view, an irresponsible approach to racing.

"It's not really about being smart; firstly for winning championships, and secondly because you can also hurt yourself, which we often see happen to many riders in AMA Supercross."

“However, it’s beginning to occur in MotoGP as well, and regrettably, many of the incidents in MotoGP are due to the motorcycles themselves. The issues with aerodynamics and winglets are significant, and the only option riders have to overtake is by taking extreme risks during braking.”

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