Ducati’s Stoner bolts to Honda

HRC is delighted to announce that Casey Stoner will become a factory Honda rider in next year’s MotoGP World Championship. The Australian 2007 World Champion, who rode in the Honda LCR Team in his debut MotoGP season in 2006, will rejoin Honda after four seasons with Ducati. Honda’s complete factory team line-up for 2011 will be officially presented later in the season.

HRC Vice President Shuhei Nakamoto said: “We are very pleased that Casey will join Honda again next year. Clearly he is one of the top riders in MotoGP and he will bring valuable speed and experience to our team. In the factory Honda squad we already have two very strong and experienced riders in Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso who are performing very well and currently hold second and third positions in the 2010 World Championship. HRC hopes also to retain these two riders for next year – giving us what would be a truly formidable line-up."