MotoGP: Jerry Burgess refusing to rule out Casey Stoner

Casey Stoner can’t be ruled out of the MotoGP title race after the Australian’s tough start to the defence of his world crown in 2008.

That’s the view of fellow Aussie Jerry Burgess, who helped mastermind five world titles for Mick Doohan and Valentino Rossi.

Stoner won the season’s opening race in Qatar with a dominant display, but has finished only 11th and sixth in Jerez and Estoril.

But Jerry Burgess said: “He had another horror weekend (in Estoril). I expect he’s not to happy about anything at the moment. Last year everything just worked for Casey and Ducati and if they didn’t know why it worked they aren’t going to go anywhere this year.”