It has been reported in crash.net that Ducati factory tester Casey Stoner is “unlikely to continue” in the role for the factory for whom he won its first World Championship in 2007, before moving to Honda and another title in 2011.

After his retirement at the end of 2012, Stoner did some testing for Honda and the suffered shoulder injuries racing in the Suzuka 8-Hours, where his throttle jammed open.

Then he switched allegiance back to Ducati, with a three-year contract as a test rider. He took part in official Dorna tests at Sepang in 2016, 2017 and 2018, setting fastest time in the middle year; but required surgery for his Suzuka injuries after this year’s tests, and has not been back on track since.

Stoner became the third Australian to win the MotoGP world championship when he triumphed onboard a Ducati in 2007 and added a second such title with Honda in 2011.

He also won the Australian MotoGP in each of his last six years in grand prix motorcycle racing, and 38 premier class races in total.

By Michael Scott