For me,as a fan of the sport for many years,it's a crying shame that a rider of Stoner's talent and ability retired at the young age of 27,he seems set in his ways and adamant he won't race in Gp's again,it's been 4 years now since he quit,what a pity we never got to see him taking on Marquez in particular.........what a pity i can no longer ogle his lovely missus holding his brolly on the start grid as well.
Dovi was referring to test frequency, Obv Pirro had more influence than Stoner. He did not give an exact answer on Stoner influence with the bike.
Its a shame, at last ducati was questioning Casey's commitment.
Casey is a mystery as usual. Maybe he doesn't want to put additional pressure to any rider in ducati, he doesn't want to upset anyone. Something he learned with honda back then. Or maybe he's completely finished.
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They have no right to question his commitment though. He fulfilled his contract, it seems they just expected him(like others did) to suddenly get the urge to get back into the GP.
I think their plan worked anyway, they got Stoner to show the bike could be faster with a better rider on it and I'm sure it helped them get Lorenzo to shine.
Just out of interest ........ now, I may be wrong but prior to 2016 when Stoner was once again involved with Ducati, was not their last race win in 2010?
He may be around little but the comments below to me indicate that the exercise to involve CS has been rewarding for Ducat.
From Dovi.
“Casey has done a few tests and has given his opinion, but his influence this year has not been big because he hasn't always been there.”
From Ciabatti
“In addition, he helped us in the beginning of the year, regarding some early decisions we needed to make for the evolution of the Desmosedici [bike].
At the start of the season they were full of promise
By season's end, they have their first wins since 2010.
Coincidence or perhaps a small indication that directions given bore fruit
He may be around little but the comments below to me indicate that the exercise to involve CS has been rewarding for Ducat.
From Dovi.
“Casey has done a few tests and has given his opinion, but his influence this year has not been big because he hasn't always been there.”
From Ciabatti
“In addition, he helped us in the beginning of the year, regarding some early decisions we needed to make for the evolution of the Desmosedici [bike].
At the start of the season they were full of promise
By season's end, they have their first wins since 2010.
Coincidence or perhaps a small indication that directions given bore fruit
Maybe not, but I have seen in a few places now that people are starting to ask what the difference between 2013/2014/2015 and 2016 is in the Ducati test regime ............ and they are coming up with an equation.
Whether it is correct or not we shall not know, but there are coincidences and there are kicks up the bum and as someone in this forum said at the start of the year (cannot recall who), maybe CS is there to show what the bike can do and give the others a hurry up
The over-riding thing in the article for me was that from day 1, CS made it clear he did not want to race as it was contracted, thus Ducati have nought to complain about in reality for both have abided by their contracts
Joined Sep 2016
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I figured if he didn't take the bait and race at a track he had just tested well at on a 3rd factory bike, then I couldn't imagine what other possibility would entice him any more than that one.
He has maintained his position on not racing MotoGP since 2012. I wouldn't have thought he would be a very good test rider in terms of bike development. His riding style and preferences for the bike may not suit the majority of riders. I can understand the value Ducati see in him being an ambassador for the brand similar to how Bayliss was.
He has maintained his position on not racing MotoGP since 2012. I wouldn't have thought he would be a very good test rider in terms of bike development. His riding style and preferences for the bike may not suit the majority of riders. I can understand the value Ducati see in him being an ambassador for the brand similar to how Bayliss was.
Probably the latter. Sadly.
Don't see how it would pressure the other riders. Iannone was out with injury and leaving for Suzuki at the end of the year anyway. Meanwhile Dovizioso is a professional #2, not that there's anything wrong with finishing behind Stoner.
Ducati & its sponsors would have been happy to see him race even if he wasn't fighting for a podium (the alternative being Pirro/Barbera). Same for Dorna. Only people it would worry were Marquez, Rossi & Lorenzo, just in case Stoner turned out to be unexpectedly competitive (potentially messing up the pts equation). No skin off Stoner's nose.
You see, therein lay the rub.
Stoner has made no secret that the he likes to ride on tracks that he has not done so before, thus his desire to ride at Austin as he had no prior experience there but for Austria, he tested and speed so got his wish, to ride the track on a MotoGP bike, so why race.
You may well be surprised as to how good a test rider he can be as he is still able to produce speeds (lap times) that Pirro cannot match, thus he is likely to identify something that Pirro may miss, purely because it is an aspect that occurs at the higher end of the speed scale.
Sure Pirro is quick, but he is race quick not single lap quick and when you are trying to test or get results of a development it is often best to be done in the short 2 or 3 lap bursts for which Stoner has been long recognised as being the master of getting to speed, then pitting. He did cop a lot of aggravation for years but like a lot of aspects of his career, the appreciation of the ability has increased with him no longer around and the fact that he could get to speed so quick is a dramatic asset in testing.
Development is something different as it is more aimed at developing for race pace and it is from this that the components are developed that the likes of CS can test at their extremes to determine their suitability or otherwise.
As we have seen recently, Aoyama is not able to compete at race pace as he is the factory development rider, which makes Pirro's competitiveness more remarkable, but again he is off the pace in race conditions (although I suspect that he would get the race pace if he had more opportunity)
The only 'pressure' it would place on other riders would be self applied pressure where the pride of being beaten by a part timer causes the usual race day self pressure to increase.
Joined Sep 2016
894 Posts | 557+
Queensland Australia
Interesting, I honestly don't know about Stoner as a test rider or how good or bad at it he is. He is obviously very fast no doubt but also has a unique style. I don't really know whether that is a good or a bad thing for the bikes development, the fact they also have Pirro as a test rider as well as Stoner may also indicate something? I got the impression Pirro was more heavily involved in the bikes development compared to Stoner but could be wrong.
Joined Apr 2015
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NJ
Yes he was at Ducati week. Was also in the paddock at a handful of races. I did see a Ducati promo with him for one of their new sportbikes.
As per the article, Stoner met ALL of the obligations of his contract which was three tests plus some promotional work.
As JPS said, he was front and centre at Ducati Week as well and did attend some other GP's if memory serves correct.
If they were expecting more than perhaps they should have written a contract stipulating their higher expectations or requirements
Joined Aug 2013
902 Posts | 509+
USA
you are right about him meeting his contractual obligations, but ever since he rejoined the team, the gist coming from the team seemed to imply that they were willing to offer a lot more had he been willing to do more. surely a deal had to have been offered to Stoner especially when Iannone was out, and when you combine a short term race deal with endorsements and merchandising, it could have been very lucrative for him as well as Ducati.
Deals for rides were offered and he said no .....
He has always stated that he does not want to return to racing and whilst he did wish to do Austin he clearly said that was to help out Pedrosa and to ride a track that he had not ridden previously.
I suspect that it really is that simple ........... he does not want to race but knows that his speed is useful come testing time given that there are severe restrictions on testing for the riders.
He knocked back a confirmed 20 million from HRC to ride an extra season, money is no motivator for him so no, I suspect that they could offer the world and he will still say no and for mine, that shows ethics and guts despite what many may say.
That is the question really and who really knows.
I suspect that there may be something there but at the same time, there may well have been a one off deal (one off being 1 year) to get CS back for publicity (achieved in a lot of ways) and perhaps for the factory to check for themselves whether the issue was bike or otherwise, so why not get a fast rider for a few tests.
JL and CS are said to get along quite well (remember the constant barbs about the ever smiling podiums of Pedrosa, Lorenzo and Stoner where people wanted anger) so who knows, they may work together or CS may just stay on the farm as no matter what, he is part of Ducati history and folklore, something which cannot be taken
Joined Sep 2016
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Queensland Australia
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