Marco Bezzecchi
Australia have had some of the biggest names in the history of Grand Prix motorcycle racing hail from down under, and Jack Miller has highlighted how he was inspired by those who came before him in MotoGP, namely Casey Stoner.
The two-time premier class champion is one of the most successful Australian riders in MotoGP history, second only to Mick Doohan in championship count.
Stoner’s career in MotoGP was highlighted by the intense battles he shared with Valentino Rossi and Dani Pedrosa on his way to besting them both to become a MotoGP title-winner with two separate teams, something the former never managed to do.
Stoner’s 2007 championship feat with Ducati marked the first riders’ championship in the history of the Italian constructor.
He later went on to win Honda’s first title of the new decade in 2011, before Marc Marquez rewrote history following his introduction to the grid in 2013.
Jack Miller hails one Casey Stoner moment as the reason he wanted to be a MotoGP rider
Following his retirement from the sport in 2012, Stoner disclosed why he didn’t ‘especially’ enjoy his title feats. The Australian rider was a perfectionist, and sometimes the pressure that came along with such a high-octane sport would get the better of him.
However, one man who did enjoy Stoner’s maiden title in the premier class was Jack Miller, who recently revealed it to be his favourite MotoGP moment whilst growing up in Townsville, Queensland.
In a question posed by TNT Sports on the social accounts, the Australian said, “I’d probably say when Casey won his first championship in ‘07.
“That was pretty special, being from Australia and seeing that was at all possible, I didn’t really realise.
“Road racing wasn’t really on my radar until that moment. Then I understood and dived down the wormhole of what MotoGP actually was. And here we are today.”
Stoner became an enigmatic figure on the MotoGP grid due to his natural ability to find pace from the very first lap at a race weekend.
Jorge Lorenzo highlighted Stoner’s ‘incredible’ instinct in a recent interview, highlighting his knack for exactly that.
READ MORE: Casey Stoner gives instant reaction as Jack Miller qualifies on front row at Australian Grand Prix
Senna Agius could be the next Australian rider to find stardom in MotoGP
The next rider to replicate the journey that Stoner and Miller took to becoming a premier class star looks to be Senna Agius, a 20-year-old Australian who is currently competing in his second full-time season of Moto2.
After winning his first Grand Prix in the intermediate class at the 2025 British Grand Prix weekend, Agius was linked with a promotion to MotoGP.
Premier class brands were keeping tabs on the emerging star as they looked towards the next generation of riders that may take the grid by storm once the new 2027 MotoGP regulations are put in place following the conclusion of the upcoming season.
Agius highlighted Miller and Stoner’s home Grand Prix feats following his win at Silverstone, stating that winning at the iconic Phillip Island circuit is next on his list.
He didn’t have to wait long for his dream to come to fruition. Agius took home the victory in Australia just a couple of months later, earning him his second victory in the category.
The 20-year-old’s next port of call will be trying to set up a proper championship challenge in the intermediate class next year in hopes of securing a full-time ride in MotoGP for the 2027 term.
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