Post by Bundy on Jul 24, 2013 11:31:06 GMT 10
I don't know what to say about this.
It was said by Nakamoto at the time Stoner announced his 'retirement' that he would always be welcomed back to Honda should he choose to do so. In light of this, there is always the possibility that these tests should be treated as a mere chance for Stoner to get his appetite satisfied for Motogp without really wanting to get back in it for one-off rides or a full-time come back given that the sport hasn't really addressed the issues that caused Stoner's disillusion with it in the first place.
You also have to wonder what the future holds for him here with the V8s. He has already said that he doesn't feel experienced enough to drive in the enduros this year.
www.v8x.com.au/index.php/9-news/959-stoner-not-ready-for-v8-supercar-enduro-events
Perhaps his thinking is that he wants to go back and try something he will be immediately good at which is testing a bike rather than made to look like a second rate driver out on the V8 development series track. So, looking to generate some self-confidence perhaps that he can bring back to the V8s.
The other thing is that a strict annual testing program with Honda would still be consistent with another one of his reasons why he quit Motogp in the first place which was to spend more time with his family.
It may also be a financial issue. It was reported that Honda were prepared to offer him $16 million to stay in the sport, so you would think that he might possibly get paid somewhere close to a million dollars for these couple of tests he has to partake in.
On the flipside to these considerations, is that he is still young which can work both ways - young enough to compete in Motogp and young enough to comeback and have a career in the v8s. We also know he will be quick if not the quickest out there on the motogp grid provided that he is given the same bike as Pedrosa and Marquez which has been promised by Nakamoto but this is if indeed he does comeback to Honda.
The other considerations is that there are a number of seats available for next season. Perhaps the teams are waiting on Stoner's intentions for next year before they make the final decisions as to who will be on their bikes. But there are endless possibilities, Suzuki, Ducati, Gresini, LCR, Tech 3 and perhaps Repsol running 3 bikes instead of two like when they did for Stoner, Pedrosa and Dovi in 2011.
Out of all these options, Suzuki and Ducati would hopefully be at the bottom with Tech 3 next then Gresini and LCR provided Honda give him a full-spec bike and then there is Repsol where he is guaranteed to have full factory support.
Personally, I would like to see him back in Motogp where I know he will have the other riders' measure and increase my interest back into the sport. V8s can wait. He has shown potential this year already and has probably set himself goals that were to high to achieve. Also, with the continued support of Red bull you would think this gives him the luxury of being able to wait.
It was said by Nakamoto at the time Stoner announced his 'retirement' that he would always be welcomed back to Honda should he choose to do so. In light of this, there is always the possibility that these tests should be treated as a mere chance for Stoner to get his appetite satisfied for Motogp without really wanting to get back in it for one-off rides or a full-time come back given that the sport hasn't really addressed the issues that caused Stoner's disillusion with it in the first place.
You also have to wonder what the future holds for him here with the V8s. He has already said that he doesn't feel experienced enough to drive in the enduros this year.
www.v8x.com.au/index.php/9-news/959-stoner-not-ready-for-v8-supercar-enduro-events
Perhaps his thinking is that he wants to go back and try something he will be immediately good at which is testing a bike rather than made to look like a second rate driver out on the V8 development series track. So, looking to generate some self-confidence perhaps that he can bring back to the V8s.
The other thing is that a strict annual testing program with Honda would still be consistent with another one of his reasons why he quit Motogp in the first place which was to spend more time with his family.
It may also be a financial issue. It was reported that Honda were prepared to offer him $16 million to stay in the sport, so you would think that he might possibly get paid somewhere close to a million dollars for these couple of tests he has to partake in.
On the flipside to these considerations, is that he is still young which can work both ways - young enough to compete in Motogp and young enough to comeback and have a career in the v8s. We also know he will be quick if not the quickest out there on the motogp grid provided that he is given the same bike as Pedrosa and Marquez which has been promised by Nakamoto but this is if indeed he does comeback to Honda.
The other considerations is that there are a number of seats available for next season. Perhaps the teams are waiting on Stoner's intentions for next year before they make the final decisions as to who will be on their bikes. But there are endless possibilities, Suzuki, Ducati, Gresini, LCR, Tech 3 and perhaps Repsol running 3 bikes instead of two like when they did for Stoner, Pedrosa and Dovi in 2011.
Out of all these options, Suzuki and Ducati would hopefully be at the bottom with Tech 3 next then Gresini and LCR provided Honda give him a full-spec bike and then there is Repsol where he is guaranteed to have full factory support.
Personally, I would like to see him back in Motogp where I know he will have the other riders' measure and increase my interest back into the sport. V8s can wait. He has shown potential this year already and has probably set himself goals that were to high to achieve. Also, with the continued support of Red bull you would think this gives him the luxury of being able to wait.
Casey Stoner to test MotoGP Honda
Former double MotoGP champion Casey Stoner will come out of retirement during a series of test sessions for Honda.
The gifted Australian, Ducati's only world champion before claiming a second crown with Honda in 2011, walked away from the sport at the end of last season - aged just 27.
But Stoner, who has since taken part in V8 Supercar racing, will now get back on a MotoGP machine after agreeing to four tests at Motegi, Japan 'over the next few months'.
"It's been almost seven months now since Valencia and I'm still happy and comfortable with the decision I made to stop racing," said Stoner.
"Sometimes I miss riding my RCV, so I am happy that HRC asked me to do some tests in Motegi this year. This will allow me to enjoy what I miss: riding a MotoGP bike! I'm looking forward to getting on the bike and see how it has changed from last year and I'd like to thank Honda for this opportunity."
The official purpose of the tests is to help Honda work on the evolution of the RC213V and also next year's new privateer production racer bike. The tests are sure to spark further speculation that Stoner could make a race return as a wild-card later this year. However such wild-card rumours are described by Honda as 'now out of the question'.
"We are very pleased to have Casey back on a Honda!” said HRC Executive Vice President Shuhei Nakamoto. “He knows this machine very well and I'm sure he can help our engineers and technicians with the development of the RC213V. We will also ask him to test the new production racer and give us his initial feedback to assist us in producing the best machine possible."
Stoner's place in the Repsol Honda team has been taken by rookie Marc Marquez, who currently leads the championship standings by 16 points from team-mate Dani Pedrosa.
Marquez and Pedrosa briefly tried the 2014 RCV prototype during a private test at Aragon in June, but decided to stick with the present version of the machine. Changes to the MotoGP rules mean that next year's official MSMA machines must use the new control ECU hardware, and one litre less fuel per race.
Honda's new production racer, a cut price version of the RCV for sale to privateers, will be required to run the full control ECU system - software and hardware. The keep costs down, the bike does not feature pneumatic valves or a seamless shift gearbox, but will enjoy the privateer perks of four litres extra race fuel and twelve instead of five engine changes during the year.
Stoner took 38 MotoGP wins between 2006 and the end of 2012. Ducati has not won a race since Stoner left for Honda at the end of 2010.
www.crash.net/motogp/news/193803/1/casey_stoner_to_test_motogp_honda.html