Stoner to HRC, done deal?

 

[I weep for Ducati unless they can get Rossi or Lorenzo in 2011]

Stoner 'has already decided to go', fears Ducati

As speculation over the MotoGP 2011 rider merry-go-round increasingly
gathers pace, a well-informed Ducati Marlboro source concedes that
2007 world champion Casey Stoner 'has already decided' to switch to
Repsol Honda next year
Casey Stoner 'has already decided' to leave Ducati Corse for Repsol
Honda in MotoGP 2011, a well-informed insider from the Australian's
current team has conceded – as his suitor admitted that it is also
'interested' in regaining the services of Valentino Rossi.

It was reported earlier this month that Stoner and Honda have all-but
agreed terms for the 2007 MotoGP World Champion to switch camps for
next season [see separate story – click here], and whilst Ducati
itself has maintained its silence on the matter, a source within the
Italian outfit has revealed to GPWeek that there is now no going back.

“As far as Casey going to Honda next year, I think it's a done deal,”
the 'highly-placed' team member stated. “I don't have any hard
information and I don't want to go on the record, but it's just a gut
feeling. I think he has already decided to go.”

Chief amongst Stoner's motivations to join Honda is the presence there
of former Ducati team manager Livio Suppo, who oversaw the 24-year-
old's march to the crown three years ago in only his maiden campaign
with the team and second in the premier class and has in 2010 moved to
Honda in a marketing and managerial capacity.

Another carrot is the opportunity to return the Japanese manufacturer
to title glory for the first time since 2006, as well as the personal
prospect of joining the elite group of just Rossi, Eddie Lawson and
Geoff Duke to successfully claim the premier class championship with
two different marques.

Aside from an opportunistic victory for veteran Loris Capirossi in the
wet/dry 2007 Japanese Grand Prix – the same event at which Stoner
lifted the laurels – no other rider has triumphed for Ducati since the
Queensland native joined the squad, during which time he has equalled
the tally of 20 successes notched up over the same period by record-
breaking multiple world champion Rossi, despite being sidelined by
illness for some of last year, an episode that is believed to have
created a degree of tension with title sponsor Marlboro.

There have also reportedly been rather too many accidents for his
employer's liking – including two in the first three races of 2010
alone – and Honda has made little secret of its desire to secure the
signature of the 27-time race-winner.

Such an eventuality would mean one of the two present incumbents –
Dani Pedrosa or the increasingly impressive Andrea Dovizioso – having
to make way, with either Jorge Lorenzo or FIAT Yamaha team-mate Rossi
looking to be in-line to replace Stoner at Ducati, despite Lin Jarvis'
protestations that the objective is to retain both riders [see
separate story – click here]. 'The Doctor' has similarly been
mentioned in connection with Honda, although given the manner in which
he left back at the end of 2003, a rapprochement does not appear
likely.

“We haven't drawn a programme for next year yet,” HRC vice-president
Shuei Nakamoto told Italian sports newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“Maybe we'll do it in July, but the four best riders have their
contracts expiring so it's normal we are interested in all of them,
Valentino too.

“Because Honda is not content with podiums, we want to win, we've
asked Colin Stoner (Casey Stoner's father and manager) if they would
like to come with us. However, we absolutely didn't get into the
details – like number of years or retainer – at all.”

 

On Tue, 25 May 2010 19:05:47 -0700 (PDT), PaulpULVITZKA

<snip>

Did you write this? Because it doesn't seem nearly as moronic as most
of your posts.

It's customary, when posting other peoples' writing, to let the reader
know who wrote it.

 

There are a few source claiming it is a done deal. One has to wonder
what HRC is thinking. Stoner's track recordindicates he is not any
better than Pedrosa when it comes to bike development. More aggressive
-yes. More methodical -no.

 

pablo wrote:

A few things to consider. Lorenzo may not be in play at Honda, he may
not be interested, he may not be affordable. One assumes Rossi isn't a
viable option. Maybe Stoner is signing for the #2 seat, he's hardly
Repsol's wet dream and Honda may still want to re-sign Pedrosa. And
Stoner might be seeking a lower-profile position anyway. Stoner can't
demand that much money, especially with his start this year, he's not
Spanish, he's not Italian, he's not sponsor-friendly. So he may be a
real bargain right now. He may be all but out at Ducati, Marlboro may
have drawn a line in the sand, and he may want out anyway. Yamaha might
not be an option with Rossi, Lorenzo and Spies all in line there now.

In other words, a marriage borne of necessity. People talked about a
bidding war this year, but right now it kind of looks like the only guy
whose value may be getting inflated is Lorenzo...

 


What makes you say that? He, his race engineer and Preziosi between them
have developed a bike that he can ride extremely fast. Are you saying
Stoner had no part to play in that? That his feedback isn't methodical?

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