Stoner to Honda in 2011

By John Hopkins

Honda Racing has confirmed that 2007 MotoGP World Champion Casey Stoner will ride for its factory team in the premier class in 2011, ending his tenure with the Ducati program.

"We are very pleased that Casey will join Honda again next year," said HRC Vice President Shuhei Nakamoto in an HRC press release on Friday. "Clearly he is one of the top riders in MotoGP and he will bring valuable speed and experience to our team."

The Australian leaves Ducati after a four-year association with the Italian squad, which was highlighted by a World Title in his debut campaign with the team in 2007.

“I would like to thank Casey on behalf of our fans and our sponsors, but most of all on behalf of all the people working at Ducati,” commented Filippo Preziosi, Ducati Corse General Director in a press release from Ducati on Friday. “The victories and emotions he gave us rewarded all the hard work and sacrifice we made.

"In these four years together we have had a lot of great moments. Securing the 2007 MotoGP World Championship title and the victory at Mugello in 2009 were moments that we will never forget.

"In Casey we not only found an incredibly talented rider, but also an honest and loyal guy and that’s why there will always be a strong and sincere bond between us, even as a competitor.”

The Honda release suggested the factory would like to retain its incumbent pairing of riders, Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso.

"HRC hopes also to retain these two riders for next year - giving us what would be a truly formidable line-up,” Nakamoto added.

Stoner made his top class debut with the LCR Honda squad in 2006 before moving to Ducati.

Stoner's departure from Ducati will intensify speculation that Valentino Rossi is set to take his spot next year. The current MotoGP World Champion, and Yamaha factory rider, is recuperating from the badly broken leg he suffered in practice for the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello in June.