The relationship between Casey Stoner and Valentino Rossi has been one of the most fascinating and complex in MotoGP history. During their years of competition, the two riders found themselves not only battling on the track, but also in the media arena, where their personalities contrasted significantly. Rossi, known for his charisma, his ability to connect with fans and his “showman” image, and Stoner, more introverted and reserved, formed a rivalry that was fuelled, in part, by the media.

In a recent interview on the  Ducati Diaries podcast , Stoner recalled how Valentino Rossi wielded a huge amount of influence over the press, something that played a crucial role in how their rivalry was perceived. “He had everyone under control, even the press,” Stoner confessed. According to the Australian, Rossi had a unique ability to manipulate the media in his favour, something that allowed him to shape the narrative around him. “He was very important to all the media. If they ever wrote something bad about him, he would blacklist them!” Stoner noted.

This control over the media had consequences for those who did not align themselves with the image Rossi wanted to project. Stoner explained that, being seen as a direct rival of Rossi, he became a target of the press. “They thought: ‘We have to write bad press about someone’, and I became their number one enemy,” he said. Thus, the media often portrayed Stoner as the villain of the story, a figure opposed to Rossi’s likeable and charismatic personality. “It often happens like this, that people are fooled and become villains just because they are not so nice on the outside,” he added.

The Australian did not fail to draw a comparison with another rider who experienced a similar situation: Dani Pedrosa. According to Stoner, Pedrosa, known for his seriousness and professional approach, was also misunderstood for not fitting the mould of the “showman” that many expected. “Dani was not as well liked as he could have been, perhaps because he was too serious, too focused on results,” said Stoner, stressing that, despite Pedrosa’s public image, they always maintained a friendship and mutual respect.

Stoner, unlike Rossi, never tried to adopt a similar approach to his career. “I didn’t follow in Valentino’s footsteps. I didn’t try to take on the role that he had,” he said. According to Stoner, Rossi’s image was fantastic for the sport, but he never felt the need to emulate it. “That was just the way he was, his character. He was fantastic for the sport. He was almost perfect in how he did everything. I never tried to be that person,” he explained.

Stoner admitted that he often saw other riders, especially those who came after him, trying to imitate Rossi’s persona in order to attract the same fan base. However, Stoner considers this approach to be false and forced. “I’ve seen a lot of people after me trying to be this same character, trying to capture the Valentino fan base. But it’s so fake, so acted,” he commented. Despite this, he acknowledged that many of those riders, despite being perceived as artificial, are still loved by fans.

Stoner’s perspective on the issue is clear: while he simply wanted to compete and entertain fans through his talent and serious approach, other riders chose to become showmen. “I just wanted to race a bike. I wanted to entertain, but not because you wanted me to. There is enough entertainment in what we do and how close the racing is,” he concluded.

Despite his early retirement, Stoner remains a respected figure in the MotoGP world, with two world championship titles in 2007 and 2011. Valentino Rossi, who remains a legend of motorcycling, retired with seven MotoGP titles, being one of the most influential figures in the history of the sport. Although their rivalry was intense for years, both riders have recently put their differences behind them, as demonstrated by Stoner’s visit to Rossi’s VR46 ranch, where they reminisced about their years of battles on the track. The relationship that was once marked by competition and tension has now transformed into a friendship, a reflection of the maturity and respect that both have for each other.