Stoner: Red Bull Ring run-off areas "dangerous"

Stoner, who serves as Ducati's test rider, will ride in Austria in less than 10 days' time and has spoken out about the asphalt run-offs at the Spielberg venue.

"I'm worried about the run-offs in Austria," the Australian told Sky Italia. "Some of them are even painted on. Imagine what will happen if it rains: a rider who crashes will not slow down, just the opposite.

"They have to focus more on safety because people's lives are fragile and you can't always put performance first, with run-off areas that won't slow the riders."

"The asphalt run-offs are dangerous, as Luis Salom's accident at Montmelo showed.

"To those who say that it's actually a safety measure I say no, it only benefits those who want to brake as late as possible and then go wide. It is only aimed at pleasing them, it has nothing to do with safety."

When the Ducati starts testing in Austria, the Safety Commission will have already examined the proposals presented to modify the area where Luis Salom crashed at Montmelo, especially Turn 12.

The question mark is the final corner

The only team that will not be present at Red Bull Ring on the 19th and 20th of July will be Honda, which has not received an invitation from Ducati - who rented the circuit - to run with the RC213V-S, the road version of the MotoGP bike.

However, both Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa had the chance to complete a number laps a few days ago to get used to the track.

"On the safety side, most of the circuit looks pretty good, but there's a question mark on the final corner, which is where Daniil Kvyat had his accident [on Saturday during F1's Austrian Grand Prix]," Marquez told Motorsport.com.

"We'll have to see how they protect that area with the Airfence. Until we race there, we won't know what needs to be improved."