Casey Stoner won the 2007 MotoGP World Championship on the Ducati Desmosedici GP with ten wins in eighteen races, results that also helped the Italian manufacturer to clinch the Constructors’ title. Between 2007 and 2010, Casey won a total of 23 races for Ducati.
The 30-year-old Australian from Southport (Queensland), who is widely considered to be one of the fastest and most talented riders ever, will become brand ambassador for the Bologna-based manufacturer and, as part of the agreement, will appear at the 2016 edition of World Ducati Week, scheduled to run from July 1-3. He will also take part in a selected number of MotoGP tests for the Ducati Team next year.
Casey Stoner: “It’s been a great journey with HRC over the last five years, winning the World Championship in 2011 was obviously a high point and I’ve made many friends and formed lasting relationships along the way. For 2016 I am very excited to announce that I will again be joining the Ducati team! I have so many great memories working with the people and the brand of Ducati and the opportunity to work with them again is something very special. Gigi Dall’Igna has brought with him a new approach and I’m looking forward to assisting the team, Andrea Dovizioso and Andrea Iannone however I can. The Ducati brand and the Ducati fans have been such a big part of my career and my life, so it will be really great to reunite the relationship and start another chapter with this iconic brand.”
Claudio Domenicali (CEO Ducati Motor Holding): “Stoner has always remained in the hearts of all the Ducatisti and I am really pleased that he has decided to come back to our family. Casey has an extraordinary talent and with his experience he will be able to make an important contribution for Gigi and the two Andreas in the development of the Desmosedici MotoGP bike. His presence at WDW 2016 will be a special gift for all the Ducati fans and enthusiasts, who will finally have the opportunity to catch up once again with this great champion who brought the 2007 world title to Borgo Panigale and who won numerous GP races with the Desmosedici GP.”
More, from a press release issued by Honda Racing Corporation (HRC):
Honda bid a fond farewell to Casey Stoner
After a five year collaboration with Honda Racing Corporation, Casey Stoner will part ways with the Japanese manufacturer at the end of 2015.
Casey joined the factory squad – the Repsol Honda Team – in 2011 and adapted immediately to the RC212V bike winning ten races, and taking one 2nd place and five 3rd places. His victory in the Australian Grand Prix was his fifth in succession at his home race where he clinched the World Championship, Honda’s first since 2006.
Throughout his career with Honda, Casey has achieved a total of 15 victories (10 x 2011, 5 x 2012), 2 second positions (1 x 2011, 1 x 2012), 9 third positions (5 x 2011, 4 x 2012) in total 26 podiums. In addition to 17 pole positions (12 x 2011, 5 x 2012) and 9 fastest race laps (7 x 2011, 2 x 2012). He also celebrated a second place finish and one pole position aboard the satellite LCR Honda in 2006.
Honda Racing Corporation would like to thank Casey for all that he achieved during his time at Honda, and wish him and his family the very best for the future.
Shuhei Nakamoto
HRC Executive Vice President
“We have great memories of Casey’s time with Honda. From the moment he arrived in 2011 in the Repsol Honda Team we had a very close relationship and we always enjoyed speaking to him about racing and technical matters. Of course his Championship win in 2011 was a very special moment for us and a highlight of my career. Even after his racing days were over, I enjoyed attending his tests to take with him and spend time together. We would like to thank him for everything he gave to us over the past five years and send our best wishes to him and his family.”