Senna Agius explains the Stoner parallel: “I steer via the rear wheel”

Australian rider Senna Agius is one of the hottest contenders for promotion to the 2027 MotoGP season. His manager, Chaz Davies, is convinced that the current Moto2 rider can only realise his full potential on a more powerful bike. In an exclusive interview with SPEEDWEEK.com, Agius explained why he shares this view – and why, of all people, he recognises his own riding style in that of his compatriot Casey Stoner.

“One hundred per cent. Chaz is absolutely right,” said Agius when asked whether a larger bike would suit him better given his natural riding style. “Whenever I’ve switched to a larger bike during my career, I’ve improved enormously. Even the Moto2 bike suited me much better straight away.”

“And I know I’d be ready if I were to switch to a big bike next year. My riding style suits it too. That’s my goal. I’m convinced I’m ready. There’s nothing more I can do at the moment. Right now, I’m fully focused on Moto2 and am simply trying to do the best job I can,” said the 21-year-old during the German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring. It is now certain: Agius will race for Tech3-KTM next year.

Flat-track style: Agius is reminiscent of Stoner

But why does Agius feel more at home on more powerful bikes? The explanation for this goes back a long way. Agius spent a large part of his youth training in flat-track racing – a discipline in which the motorbike is constantly controlled via the rear wheel. These fundamentals continue to shape his riding style to this day.

Senna Agius im Gespräch mit SPEEDWEEK.com-Mitarbeiter Sebastian Fränzschky

Foto: Gerhard Schiel

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“I rode flat track for ten years. I learnt to control the motorbike via the rear wheel right from the start,” explained the Australian. “When I then entered the World Championship, I realised that although I’d reached a good standard in national road racing, the level in Spain and Europe is significantly higher still. The riders here start racing much earlier. They don’t really think about steering the motorbike via the rear wheel. European riders are incredibly strong on the brakes and at steering via the front wheel.”

It is precisely on this point that Agius sees the parallel with Casey Stoner, whose riding style is still regarded as exceptional to this day. “Casey once explained this perfectly in relation to his own career: he always controlled the bike via the rear wheel because that was safer for him and reduced the risk of the front wheel sliding out. At the same time, he said that European riders ride much more via the front wheel. That’s exactly the case for me too.”

Australian style with a fine-tune

However, Agius emphasises that his riding has developed significantly in recent years. “I’ve made great progress in this area and am now competitive. I now have many different tools in my riding repertoire to help me go fast. But turning in via the rear wheel comes completely naturally to me.”

Casey Stoner: MotoGP-Weltmeister 2007 und 2011

Foto: Gold and Goose

In the past, Agius benefited most on circuits that run anti-clockwise and suit his style. These days, he hardly notices this difference anymore. “Of course, circuits that are run anti-clockwise suit me better. But these days, the difference between anti-clockwise and clockwise circuits hardly matters to me at all. What Casey said many years ago about the difference between Australian riders and the rest of the world is exactly what I’m grappling with today and what I feel myself.”