But reigning cham🅘pion Bagnaia and nearest title rival Martin st🔯ill remember some of Stoner’s jaw-dropping exploits in tricky track conditions.

Speaking at the Australian’s home Pꦜhillip Island circuit, where Stoner was unbeaten from 2007-2012, Bagnaia said:

“Incredible instinct. He was making the difference every time the con𝔉ditions were not perfect.

"I remember a wet practice. He did three laps and was like 2 seconds faster than everyone. After 40 minutes ♕they got close to him. He entered for another 2 laps and went another 2 seconds faster! For thaಌt, he was incredible.”

Bagﷺnaia, whose&n♉bsp;title triumph was Ducati’s first since Stoner in 2007, added:

“He was incredible with the Ducati bike when he won the title, the bike was fast just with him. And the yea꧑rs after he🐽 was demonstrating that he was the only one able to go fast with the Ducati.

“When he arrived at Hond🧜a it was like everything easy for him. So I think ꦉhis talent and his instinct were incredible.”

Martin 🐈admitted he wished the now 38-year-old was still on track.

“One of the greatest talents that we had in this sport,” said the Pramac Ducati rider. “I remember Aleix [Espargaro] telling me about the [w🐼eﷺt] practice session [mentioned by Bagnaia], when he was so far in front of the rest.

“For sure if you are that fasꦺt compared to the rest, you have something special. I think it was a pity that he retired so soon. It would have been super nic🌞e to see him maybe still riding and maybe being able to ride with him. But it was like this.”

Third in the standings Marco Bezzecchi, a rider tipped as🌄 having something special by Stoner when he joined the premier class, said: “Difficult to add something more, but a fantastic talent and a very good guy as well.

“Everywhere he was incredible to watch, but here was something unbelievable. This track is already unbelievable and with his riding style, it w♓as something very ✅nice.”

“He was able to pull away!” added Bagnaia, having preꦉviously warned that escaping at the front is all but impossible at Phillip Island.