Dorna chief Carmelo Ezpeleta shrugs off Casey Stoner's criticism that MotoGP has gone backwards

Ezpeleta said he was yet to speak directly to Stoner, but insisted the reigning champion's view that MotoGP is no longer "the championship I fell in love with" provided no reason to rethink the sport's future.

"We try to do the best we can, but there will always be someone who doesn't agree," Ezpeleta told Gazzetta dello Sport.

"In any case, that's no reason to change. I don't regret anything I've done. If Stoner has become a protagonist of this series he owes it to us too. When Alberto Puig indicated him to me after he took part in the Movistar Cup in Spain, we tried to give him a hand.

"If I was asked to do it again for a boy who will then turn out to be a protagonist and in the end he will decide to quit and even say what Casey said on the series, I would do it again anyway."

Ezpeleta thanked Stoner for his achievements in MotoGP, but said the sport would cope with his impending departure.

"I was warned of his retirement a few days ago, even though I haven't spoken with him directly. I can only say I thank Stoner for everything he has done," Ezpeleta said.

"But we've also seen the retirements of [Mick] Doohan, [Kevin] Schwantz, yet the world championship has gone on. Many ask me what I will do when Valentino [Rossi] retires... but it's the same for him too: it will happen sooner or later.

"The series loses a fine rider, but it has happened before and it will happen again. I have maximum respect for his decision, and I hope it's the right one for his life."