Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

By Ed Jackson

SYDNEY, May 12 AAP - Honda is denying a report that it has signed Australian
MotoGP star Casey Stoner for next season.

Honda racing corporation's marketing manager Livio Suppo held talks with
Stoner's manager and father Colin during the recent Spanish grand prix in Jerez
but says a report on an Italian website that the 2007 world champion was joining
the Japanese manufacturer was incorrect.

"There are four great riders whose contracts are ending," Suppo told GPOne.com.

"And it's clear that there will be interest in at least one of them. But at this
moment, everyone is talking to everyone, but no one has signed anything."

Ducati rider Stoner, along with world championship rivals Valentino Rossi, Jorge
Lorenzo and Honda's Dani Pedrosa, are all coming off contract at the end of
2010.

Italy's SportsMediaSet website claimed on Wednesday that Stoner had already
signed with Honda, with Ducati reportedly offering nine-time world champion
Rossi a two-year deal.

The report claimed Stoner was unhappy with Ducati trying to lure Lorenzo from
Yamaha last year with an offer allegedly worth twice the Australian's contract
while Stoner was battling an illness.

"The Australian never tolerated the decision of Ducati to contact Lorenzo in the
past summer during his illness," it said.

Honda are rumoured to be unimpressed with Spaniard Pedrosa after he has failed
to land a MotoGP title since moving up to the category in 2006.

Suppo's presence at Honda has sparked rumours Stoner will join them with the
Italian, a former Ducati MotoGP project manager, having originally lured the
24-year-old Aussie to the Italian factory outfit in 2006.

Stoner first drove in MotoGP with Honda in 2006 before moving to Ducati and
claiming the 2007 world title in his first season with them.

Neither Stoner's website nor those of Honda or Ducati had any news on the
rider's future.

The next stop of the MotoGP calendar is the third round of the season in Le
Mans, France on May 23 with Stoner sitting eighth on the standings with 11
points from two grands prix.

AAP ej/nh

Wednesday, 12 May 2010 16:41:24AAP [nAAp82176a] {C}ENDS