Stoner back on a Ducati?

Casey Stoner is set to take on a role as test rider for Ducati, according to reports coming out of Europe. And the deal with the Italian firm could also include one or more wildcards, where, presumably, Phillip Island would be high on the agenda.

The move back to Ducati would reunite Stoner with the marque where he won his first world title in 2007, and end his formal relationship with Honda, where he has been a test rider for the last couple of years — as well as riding for the Japanese giant in this year's ill-fated Suzuka 8 Hour endurance race where he crashed after a throttle stuck.

Ducati's Sporting Director Paolo Ciabatti spoke to journalists at Valencia, but refused to confirm the deal. "Casey is a hero of Ducati fans, he won so many races and was a world champion for Ducati in 2007," Ciabatti said. "We will see what the future brings but we know that his contract with Honda will expire at the end of this year and obviously if there's a chance to do something together we would love to do it."

According to motomatters.com, the agreement appears to have come about after a number of issues Stoner had as a test rider for Honda. The main issue for the Australian was the fact that HRC appeared to ignore the feedback he had given on the RC213V bike, especially the aggressiveness of the engine.

And then Stoner offered his services as a replacement for good friend Dani Pedrosa while he recovered from arm pump surgery earlier this year, but was bypassed in favour of Hiroshi Aoyama.

Stoner's contract with HRC ends on December 31, 2015, after which we'll have to wait for official confirmation of the Ducati deal.