Casey Stoner signs with Ducati

Casey Stoner has signed with Ducati’s MotoGP team Casey Stoner will return to Ducati as the brand’s MotoGP test rider in 2016, as his five-year contract with HRC expires at the end of next month.

“Casey has an extraordinary talent,” said Ducati’s CEO Claudio Domenicali during the announcement. “And with his experience he will be able to make an important contribution for Gigi [Dall’Igna] and the two Andreas in the development of the Desmosedici MotoGP bike.”

His position, which currently appears to be a one-year affair, will also include a brand ambassador role meaning the 30-year-old Australian will appear at official Ducati events like World Ducati Week.

“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,” Stoner said. “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.”

Stoner won 23 races on board the Ducati (compared to 15 on the Honda) and clinched the firm’s first and only MotoGP world title in 2007. HRC’s Executive Vice President Shuhei Nakamoto thanked Stoner for his journey with Honda and named his 2011 world championship as a highlight of his career.

"We have great memories of Casey’s time with Honda,” he said. “Even after his racing days were over, I enjoyed attending his tests to take with him and spend time together.”

By numbers
The Australian’s short but successful MotoGP career was spent with two manufacturers, Honda (Repsol Honda and LCR Honda) and Ducati (Team Ducati).

Honda                
Titles
Victories 15
Podiums 27 
Pole positions 18

Ducati
Titles 1
Victories 23
Podiums 42
Pole positions 21