Casey Stoner delighted with Nicky Hayden partnership

Former MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner has said he is revelling in his partnership with new factory Ducati team-mate Nicky Hayden.

The pair have immediately formed a good rapport together and have spoken at regular intervals during winter testing to try and accelerate development of the new carbon fibre framed GP9.

Stoner has been in scintillating form since he returned from a bone graft operation on his left wrist in January and as yet hasn’t been defeated in tests in Malaysia and Qatar.

Former Repsol Honda rider Hayden though has found the transition from RC212V to GP9 a tough challenge, though he did have his best test in Qatar recently when he ended up fifth fastest.

And Stoner believes the Kentucky rider will only develop faster because of their close working relationship, which has blossomed during the winter.

“It is very easy to speak with Nicky,” said Stoner. “We are not talking about our own problems but we’re just trying to understand similar feelings and working out solutions to help each other. Nicky is easy to get on with and he’s starting to get more comfortable with the bike, which is a very positive step.”

Stoner and Hayden conclude their winter testing schedule in Jerez this weekend with the two-day IRTA test.