Stoner: Yoshikawa call-up atrocious
Casey Stoner has slammed Yamaha's decision to field test rider Wataru Yoshikawa in place of Valentino Rossi for at least the next three MotoGP rounds
The Ducati rider says giving the factory bike to the 41-year-old former World Superbike racer - who has not competed regularly at the top level in the last eight years - is "atrocious".
Yamaha riders Ben Spies and Cal Crutchlow had already turned down the opportunity and team boss Lin Jarvis admitted that fidning a replacement for Rossi had been problematic.
"That's atrocious," Stoner said. "They're putting in people that haven't raced in... I don't know how long. Why have they done it?
"Give someone an opportunity, like they used to. Anyone is better than putting nobodies in there that are never going to do anything except finish the race - even be lucky to qualify.
"I'm sure somebody would be willing to die to get on that bike. Give someone an opportunity, that's all I can say."
Yoshikawa has been confirmed at the Yamaha team for the Catalunya, Sachsenring and Laguna Seca races, with Rossi hoping to be fit in time for Brno in mid-August.
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