MotoGP: Stoner happy with early comeback

Australian Honda rider finished fifth on Sunday having missed the previous three races because of his injury.

MOTEGI: Reigning MotoGP champion Casey Stoner says it was worth the risk to make a comeback at the weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix despite not being fully recovered from surgery on his right ankle. The Australian Honda rider, due to retire from MotoGP racing at the end of the season, finished fifth on Sunday having missed the previous three races because of his injury. “This weekend I slightly got my confidence back up,” said Stoner. “During the race I had the pace to run with the front guys, probably not for the whole race. But we definitely had the pace and that’s good.” The 2007 and 2011 world champion crashed in qualifying for the Indianapolis MotoGP on August 19 but still raced there to finish fourth. He underwent surgery on August 30 on torn ligaments and fractures to his ankle, tibia and fibula.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 16^th, 2012.