2 questions.
What is inflated about his ego given he was won 38 premier class races and 2 titles, 23 of those races and 1 of those titles for Ducati (which may vaguely explain why they rate him)? And was it not Ducati who asked him to come back and be a brand ambassador and test rider for them?
How he would have gone against MM we in all likelihood will never know, but to quote a guy who may have an informed perspective, one Shuei Nakamoto, "Marc has faster reflexes, but Casey is a genius on a bike". I personally think that while Stoner would likely match him for pace, MMs drive and imperturbability may have triumphed over a season.
As for dodging MM, Stoner when he announced his retirement was leading the premier class title race as defending champion and MM was in moto 2 barely surviving intact from colliding with Willairot and unable under the then current rules to go to a factory ride in 2013, and if any dodging was done it was by MM's manager who if reports are to be believed vetoed Stoner wild carding on a factory Honda.
You don't have to be fluent in Australian as I am to understand why Stoner left, it is in his book and many public statements, he believed Dorna were running a circus rather than a bike racing series. I doubt he perceived Rossi who was languishing at Ducati at the time as a threat on the track, but if he thought the sport would remain a circus while Rossi was involved I wouldn't call him wrong
