Stoner was held back by more than his wrist in '08. The Australian admitted to a lack of aggression that cost him races, most famously at Laguna Seca, where the season turned with Rossi's brilliant counter-attacks to Stoner's every move. This year Stoner vows to be more aggressive.
"I let people get away," he began, "especially at the beginning [of the season] I wasn't nearly aggressive enough and at the end of the season I think I could have passed a few people if it wasn't for my wrist as well. But maybe those times that I should have dived in I didn't. I like making clean passes, I like having a clean reputation, but it hasn't got me anywhere in my career so far and nobody gives me credit for it, so I think I may as well just lose that aspect of my riding."
Hayden knows that he took...
Hayden knows that he took a risk signing with Ducati after the Desmosedici's history of not behaving for riders other than Stoner, but it was a chance he knew he had to take if he wanted to get back to running up front in MotoGP.
Hayden has more adjusting to do. The single tire rule will help him more than most. With only two rear tires to choose from, Hayden and the team can concentrate on bike set-up, which is essential because he's struggling with the front tire.
"It's finding the potential and getting to the edge," he said. "The rear I can normally find the limit in about a lap. But the front, to really start pushing the front and really seeing how much you can steer and how hard you can trail brake is kind of, at the moment, it's so good, it's hard to...it sticks so good, it's not like it gives you much of a warning. It's actually amazing how hard you can push on the front, just trying to believe how far and how good it sticks."
There are a lot of unknowns for the coming season, but both Hayden and Stoner are confident, both in themselves and each other. "It's a clean slate, we're starting again," relates Stoner. "[We don't] know what to expect until the season starts and we see how everybody is performing. We don't know what Nicky is capable of yet or a lot of riders so we'll just have to wait."
Another aspect that Hayden...
Another aspect that Hayden had to relearn were the Bridgestone tires, now the exclusive spec supplier to MotoGP. After years on Michelins, he quickly became accustomed to the rear Bridgestone, but the front still took some getting used to. "It sticks so good, it's not like it gives you much of a warning," said Hayden.
"I think me and Casey can make it work," Hayden said. "Some people think two world champions can't work in a garage and I could see where there are some who couldn't. But me and him, we don't exactly have huge egos; we'll just come in and do our job."