Dovi: Stoner data 'always interesting'

Recent reports have confirmed that Casey Stoner is considering his future as a Ducati MotoGP test rider, but also that his recovery from shoulder surgery is not a factor.

Instead Stoner, who won Ducati's only MotoGP title in 2007 before adding a second crown with Honda, has been quoted as saying Ducati don't appear to be using his data and feedback.

On Saturday at Misano. Crash.net asked Ducati's reigning title runner-up Andrea Dovizioso how he has personally benefitted from Stoner's input.

After making clear he didn't want to get involved in any speculation over Stoner's future, the Italian added:

"I don't know everything about the details, but what I know is that what we saw from Casey is always very, very interesting. Because I know him from [being a team-mate at] HRC and the way he rides the bike is something special.

"In one part it's always very, very interesting. Like when you look at Jorge now. You can see on the data something special and it's always nice to study. Just like Casey.

"In another part, every rider has a different style and it doesn't mean we have to follow one way. I think the team have always tried to understand everything and tried to make the maximum.

"Everybody wants to win. Everybody has different ideas. So I don't know the details about Casey, this is not my [business], because it is the relations between Casey and Ducati."

Triple MotoGP champion Lorenzo will leave Ducati for Repsol Honda next season, while rumours over the Misano weekend have suggested new HRC team manager Alberto Puig, who played a key role in Stoner's early career, is hoping to tempt the Australian back to his previous Honda test role.

After retiring at the end of 2012, Stoner had helped Honda before returning to Ducati as a brand ambassador and test rider, alongside regular development rider Michele Pirro, in 2016. The Italian factory, which had been winless from Stoner's departure at the end of 2010, won two races in 2016, six in 2017 and three so far in 2018.

Stoner's most recent Ducati test was at Sepang in January, just before his shoulder surgery. Ducati say they are still in discussions with Stoner about his future and that no decisions have yet been made.

Stefan Bradl is set to continue as Honda's full-time test and wild-card rider next season.

Meanwhile, rumours are heating up that current Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa will become a KTM test rider next year.