Casey Stoner Returns To Racing
Cycle News Staff | March 27, 2015
PHOTO COURTESY OF HRC
Casey Stoner has decided to return to racing. The two-time MotoGP Champion will form part of Honda’s MuSASHi RT HARC-PRO three person team at this year’s Suzuka 8hr race, taking place on Sunday 26th July.
Stoner joins Honda’s World Superbike rider Michael van der Mark and MFJ All Japan Road Race JSB1000 Championship and HRC test rider Takumi Takahashi, with the goal to clinch Honda’s sixth consecutive win in the prestigious endurance event.
Having recently renewed his testing contract with HRC, Stoner tested the Suzuka CBR1000RR machine during January’s Sepang test, reporting positively on the machine to Honda engineers.
“After riding the bike in Sepang a few months ago, I’ve been speaking closely with Honda about the possibility to take part in Suzuka,” Stoner said. “It’s always been an event I wanted to do and something I was never able to consider when I was racing in MotoGP, due to our busy schedules, so I’m really looking forward to taking part.
“The bike is very different to a MotoGP machine, but it will be a new challenge and a chance for me to try something new and unlike what I’ve been used to in my racing to this point. I’ve been impressed with Michael van der Mark this season and Takumi Takahashi has a lot of experience on this machine, so I’m looking forward to hearing their comments and working together with them in preparation for the July race. Now I need to concentrate on my training to be ready for the race.”
The former World champ will have further opportunities to test the Honda machine in July preceding the event.
