Winning the 2013 Dunlop Series is considered a feasible goal for motorcycle convert Casey Stoner, according to his Triple Eight race engineer, John Russell.
This weekend, the two-time MotoGP World Champion is set to compete in the second round at Barbagallo, two months following his debut at the Adelaide season opener.
Stoner’s first outing was both promising and troubled; he crashed out of the initial race due to a series of tyre lock-ups that led to a failure, but managed to recover from 30th to 14th in Race 2.
In the second race, he recorded the eighth-fastest lap overall — the quickest among the 15 Holdens in the field — and is anticipated to feel even more at ease at this weekend’s first permanent venue of the year.
Currently, Stoner holds the 23rd position in points. Russell emphasizes that minimizing the points gap during the upcoming two events is crucial for determining where the 27-year-old will stand in December.
“When we get deeper into the competition, both he and I would likely feel disappointed if we’re not contending for the front positions,” Russell remarked, having previously guided rookie Scott Pye to second place in the overall series standings last year when discussing Stoner’s title aspirations.
“However, since the championship comprises only seven rounds, a learning curve is inevitable.
“The central question becomes whether enough can be achieved in those initial three races to secure a favorable position for the end. Looking at Scott’s achievements last year, anything is within reach.”
