Honda vow not to use team orders to help Dani Pedrosa

In-form Dani Pedrosa won’t be able to rely on Aussie teammate Casey Stoner to help him capture an elusive first MotoGP world title after HRC refused point-blank to use controversial team orders in the last three races.

With Stoner now back from injury and Pedrosa cutting Jorge Lorenzo’s lead to 28-points after a fourth win in five races in Japan last weekend, the issue of whether team orders would come into play has been a hot topic.

HRC, Pedrosa and Stoner though have united to quickly kill any suggestion that teams orders were even on the agenda.

HRC Vice-president Shuhei Nakamoto told MCN: “HRC has never made team orders, this is our history.”

Pedrosa said it was hard to imagine HRC putting the shackles on Stoner given the fact that he will retire at the end of the season and the Spaniard said: “I think Casey is a winner and of course I don’t expect that for the last races of his career that he tries to help me. And we have never seen Honda use team orders in the past.”

Stoner said the touchy subject of team orders had not been broached and he didn’t expect it to be discussed either during his comeback weekend at the Twin Ring Motegi.

He finished in a heroic fifth on his return from the serious right ankle injury he suffered in Indianapolis and the double world champion said: “They haven’t asked and I don’t believe they will. For me championships are always won fair and square, not because of a teammate helping you.”