Repsol Honda's Casey Stoner knows is will be difficult to return to racing this weekend at the Valencia MotoGP finale only a fortnight after the tragic loss of Marco Simoncelli, but added that he knows racing is a risky game.
The newly-crowned world champion thinks that racing will be the best way to honour the memory of Simoncelli who was just 24 when he was killed on the second lap of the Sepang race.
"It will be difficult to return to racing this weekend after Marco's terrible accident in Sepang but I think it is the best thing we can do to honour him. We know we all play a risky game and, even if compared to the past the safety of our sport is much better, unfortunately these kind of events still occur. My thoughts go out to his family and I hope that they are coping through this period," said Stoner.
"The race this weekend is the final round of an incredible season for us, we worked hard all year and after clinching the title in Phillip Island we are starting to look to 2012. After the race here in Valencia we will have the two-day test on the 1000cc machine and then we can take a well-deserved break and reflect on the ups and downs of a very long hard season. We will go out there this weekend and try to put on a good show for all the fans and especially in memory of Marco."
