Stoner insists Ducati wild-card “not in my programme”
Casey Stoner has reaffirmed that he is not planning to make a wild-card appearance in MotoGP this season in the wake of his latest test for Ducati.
The 2007 premier class champion made his third outing of the year last week at Misano in a two-day test that the team said left Stoner feeling "exhausted".
It was his first time on the Desmosedici GP bike since he rode at Qatar in March, although he will appear again later in the month at the Red Bull Ring.
Stoner said that he and Ducati have not planned anything beyond the collective Austrian test, which takes place on 19-20 July.
Asked again during the World Ducati Week event at Misano last weekend if he might make a wild-card appearance this season, the Australian replied: "It's not part of my programme for the moment.
"In my programme, there's only the test in Austria. After that, we'll talk about the future and about other tests.
"It's important for me to do these tests and I'm preparing myself for that. For now, I only have that in mind and I have no [further] plan."
Ducati team boss Gigi Dall'Igna re-iterated that it was not the Italian manufacturer's wish to see Stoner, who remains the last rider to win a grand prix for Ducati, race in 2016.
"We've already said this many times: to run a wild-card is not our objective with Casey," he said.
Additional reporting by Matteo Nugnes
Previous article
Marquez says newfound consistency a result of 2015 mistakes
Next article
Pedrosa: "It's never been this hard for me to run at the front"
About this article
| Series | MotoGP |
| Drivers | Casey Stoner |
| Teams | Ducati Team |
| Author | Jamie Klein |
Why Alex Marquez doesn't care about 'shutting up' MotoGP critics
Alex Marquez's form was one of MotoGP 2020's biggest surprises and, by firmly stepping out of his six-time world champion brother Marc's shadow, he proved a few people wrong. Not that he cares about this, as he tells Lewis Duncan
How Yamaha's new MotoGP era can unchain Vinales
After the electrifying start to his Yamaha MotoGP career in 2017, Maverick Vinales has struggled for consistency. Many anticipate that the arrival of Fabio Quartararo could spell disaster, but the departure of Valentino Rossi could be just the impetus he needs.
Does KTM really need 'super engine' for MotoGP title challenge?
Fears from rival MotoGP manufacturers that KTM would build a 'super engine' for 2021 have ultimately come to nothing with the revealation that the RC16 hasn't been radically changed over the winter. But does it really need that to win the title?
How Ducati's latest Aussie union can return it to MotoGP glory
Australians on Ducatis is an iconic partnership, the marque's last one yielding its sole MotoGP crown to date. But its latest Aussie union with the often underestimated Jack Miller can end this drought.
The "balls out" battle between MotoGP's true greats
Senna vs Prost is regularly cited as motorsport's greatest rivalry. But it can easily be argued Rainey vs Schwantz can stake that claim. That rivalry was in full swing during the 1991 500cc season, remembered fondly by both stars 30 years on...
The "warrior" MotoGP rookie KTM was right to back
The 2020 MotoGP campaign featured a standout pair of rookies, but one flew under the radar as he adjusted to a shock step-up armed with very little racing experience. However as his veteran team boss explains, the faith shown in him was not misplaced
Why Suzuki's Brivio replacement must come from within
With its charismatic leader Davide Brivio leaving for Formula 1, the Suzuki MotoGP squad he turned into a world championship-winning force in 2020 has a major recruitment headache that it needs to resolve carefully.
Why Alpine's latest signing could be its best hope of F1 glory
The return of Fernando Alonso to the renamed Alpine team is a sure sign of the team's ambition. But its latest appointment from MotoGP could be an even bigger coup as it seeks to end a barren run stretching back to Alonso's 2006 world title
