In 2007, Casey Stoner switched from LCR Honda to Ducati for his second season of MotoGP; he stunned the paddock by winning his first race for the Italian team at Losail and winning the championship by a comfortable margin. Stoner went on to get 20 race wins and 19 pole positions with Ducati.
End of the Partnership
Casey Stoner’s three-year agreement with Ducati came to an end, and his partnership with the company came to an end. From 2016 to 2017, he was the Ducati development rider and brand ambassador. In 2012, he announced his retirement from MotoGP, and his final season was with Honda, the team with which he made his MotoGP debut in 2006. Stoner has 38 victories, 69 podium finishes, and 39 pole positions on his credit in his MotoGP career. Casey’s efforts to continuously advance the Desmosedici GP bike from 2016 to 2018 have been acknowledged by Ducati.
Casey Stoner said: “I’d want to express my gratitude to Ducati for the unforgettable experiences, especially the love and excitement of Ducati enthusiasts for our shared passion for racing and riding.” I have thoroughly enjoyed working with the test team, technicians, and engineers over the past three years as we worked to improve the Desmosedici GP package, and I wish the team the best of luck in their future practises.”
Stoner Linked With Honda
Since former Ducati CEO Livio Suppo moved to Honda, Stoner also decided to do the same. Along with other Honda riders Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso. His retirement from Ducati also cleared the way for Valentino Rossi to join the Italian squad, with rumours of a team swap for the world champion picking up steam in recent weeks.
Team boss Filippo Preziosi has appreciated Stoner’s commitment to the Ducati team over the last four seasons. He said:
“On behalf of our fans and sponsors, but most importantly on behalf of everyone at Ducati, I’d like to convey my appreciation to Casey. His victories and emotions rewarded all of our hard work and sacrifices.”
Crashy Stoner or Scary Stoner
After making his MotoGP debut with the Satellite Honda LCR team in 2006, he joined the Ducati factory racing squad in 2007 and won his first championship. He won ten races in the 2007 season, starting with the opening round in Qatar, and finished the season with 367 points to win the championship. In 2008, he won six races and finished second overall in the championship. In the 2009 and 2010 seasons, he only won four and three races, respectively.
The Australian announced his retirement from MotoGP in 2012, shocking the industry. He finished the 2010 season with Ducati after the collaboration ended, and he switched to Honda for the 2011 season. He also won his second World Championship that year with Honda. He conducted some testing for Honda after retiring, but in 2016 he returned to Ducati as a factory racer and brand ambassador.
Casey Stoner also had a key role in developing the Ducati Panigale V4 and other Ducati models. Before the 2016 season, Casey made a public appearance during the Sepang test, where he set competitive lap times. He also attended the 2016 and 2018 editions of the World Ducati Week, where he met Ducatisti from all around the world.
Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati
“Casey is and will always be a part of Ducatisti’s hearts, and we thank him on their behalf for the invaluable assistance he has given us over the previous three years.” His technical suggestions, together with the efforts and comments of the factory riders and Michele Pirro, have assisted the Desmosedici GP to become one of the most competitive bikes on the grid, and his support in the development of our production bikes has been equally beneficial. Ducati and its many fans extend their heartfelt gratitude and best wishes to Casey and his family for a peaceful and prosperous future.”
