There's no reason why Stoner won't add the 2012 MotoGP world title to his triumphs in 2007 and 2011.
The impossibly young-looking Aussie's 2011 season was brilliant. Twelve starts from pole was a record-breaking feat (no one has earned more in a season in the four-stroke era).
No other rider has regained their world crown after a gap of three seasons without it. Stoner is also only the fifth man to win the world championship with two separate makers (joining Eddie Lawson, Geoff Duke, Valentino Rossi, and Giacomo Agostini).
He sits fifth on the all-time list for race triumphs behind Rossi (79), Agostini (68), Mick Doohan (54), and Mike Hailwood (37) with 33. His 2011 world title was the only victory on a Honda in the 800cc engine era of 2007-2011.
And to cap it all off, he had 10 victories in the 2011 season.
But what is perhaps more telling than Stoner's achievements and ability is that any potential challengers to his throne aren't exactly jumping out of the woodwork.
While Ducati will improve their machine, it's not entirely certain whether Rossi will capitalise on those improvements.
The Italian champ's 2011 season left a lot to be desired. He couldn't come up with a victory – an outcome which has been unthinkable since the turn of the century.
Rossi will be banking on Ducati's upgrades to bring him back to the front of the grid. The twin-spar aluminium frame was tested by Rossi and Nicky Hayden at Valencia, and Ducati will be praying the alteration brings about a change in fortunes in 2012.
Rossi turns 33 in February, making 2012 a critical year in the context of his career. While it's not too late for a revival, another season of failure would all but bring down the curtain.
Elsewhere, Stoner's teammate Dani Pedrosa will be looking to mount a stronger challenge after injury marred his quest for the 2011 title.
Pedrosa missed races on the Catalunya, Silverstone and Assen circuits after breaking his collarbone in an accident with the late Marco Simoncelli on May 15 at Le Mans.
Despite that setback, the Spaniard completed the season well. Following the crash, he won in Germany and Japan (to go with his victory in Portugal earlier in the year), and also had three runner-up finishes at Indianapolis, San Marino and Aragon.
Doohan, Australia's five-time MotoGP world champion, feels it's Stoner who will capitalise on the strength of Honda in his quest for back-to back titles.
"If (Honda) get the bike right again in 2012, (Stoner) should keep winning. He understands the bike. If the bike stays there I think over the next five years it's his to lose. He's going to be a hard guy to beat," Doohan says.
It will be interesting to see how Stoner, 26, adapts to the 1000cc engine era. He won both the first and last world titles of the 800cc era in 2007 and 2011.
Rather than fear the change after his successes with the 800cc engines, Stoner says he has a liking for the 1000cc engines in any case.
"I've always preferred 1000s when I got on them. With more power I feel a lot more comfortable. I'm just really looking forward to the 1000s … I think at a lot of circuits it's going to be a lot more fun."
Will more fun translate to another world title? If only because of the absence of serious challengers, it is overwhelmingly likely.
source: bigpondsport.com
