Photo: David Reygondeau
“Silence is deafening” in HRC’s camp when it comes to info on whether MotoGP legend Casey Stoner will be returning to racing or not. However, while we sort of doubt there is any future for him in MotoGP, we might just see him in Endurance World Championship (EWC) races, if we are to believe the latest rumors, we might see Stoner at the Suzuka 8 Hours on 26 July, 2015.
Honda’s Livio Suppo is not telling anything on how the discussions between HRC and Stoner are going, but reading between the lines tells us that there have been such talks for real. According to Max Temporali, Suppo admits that Stoner is eyeing a return on the race track wearing official Honda livery, if an EWC one and aboard a CBR1000RR Fireblade instead of a RCV213 MotoGP prototype.
Stoner already tested Honda machinery this year, as he was confirmed as an official test rider for HRC and got the chance to throw a leg over the 2015 MotoGP machine and make back-to-back comparisons with the 2014 version. Apparently he also had a hands-on experience with the CBR.
Carlo Fiorani and Marco Chini, in charge of the Superbike department of Honda say that the final decisions on who will be at the helm of the bike for the Suzuka race are expected in late March. They say that one of the riders is most likely going to be Michael Van Der Mark, who is favored by his age and previous victories. Stoner and Van der Mark “would be the perfect couple” the officials say, adding that such a team would also break a bit the habit of having inly Superbike riders in the Endurance game.
Even more, we are positive that Stoner’s historic sponsors would be ever so glad to tie their name to the (partial) return to the track of the MotoGP legend… and would fork out a lot of money to get as much Casey-branded exposure as possible. As for Stoner’s racing skills… he could definitely help Honda maintain the winning streak at Suzuka and add more glory to the house of Tokyo and obviously to his own name.
Casey is considering the possibility
“There is nothing decided, for now the only test is scheduled for the month of October with the MotoGP. Running the eight hours it will be his decision, not Honda’s, and right now Casey is considering this possibility. Then, it also depends on who will be his teammate. Certainly the speed of today's Casey allows him to win a race like the 8 Hours," Suppo says.Stoner already tested Honda machinery this year, as he was confirmed as an official test rider for HRC and got the chance to throw a leg over the 2015 MotoGP machine and make back-to-back comparisons with the 2014 version. Apparently he also had a hands-on experience with the CBR.
Carlo Fiorani and Marco Chini, in charge of the Superbike department of Honda say that the final decisions on who will be at the helm of the bike for the Suzuka race are expected in late March. They say that one of the riders is most likely going to be Michael Van Der Mark, who is favored by his age and previous victories. Stoner and Van der Mark “would be the perfect couple” the officials say, adding that such a team would also break a bit the habit of having inly Superbike riders in the Endurance game.
MotoGP riders are not attracted by the lower salaries in Endurance racing
The EWC is a significantly “poorer” racing event compared to MotoGP and this is why premier class riders are not that much into Endurance events. However for Stoner, getting to race in one Endurance event could sound like a very appealing idea, especially as this has nothing to do with the busy schedule the MotoGP season has.Even more, we are positive that Stoner’s historic sponsors would be ever so glad to tie their name to the (partial) return to the track of the MotoGP legend… and would fork out a lot of money to get as much Casey-branded exposure as possible. As for Stoner’s racing skills… he could definitely help Honda maintain the winning streak at Suzuka and add more glory to the house of Tokyo and obviously to his own name.
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