Honda move no distraction, says Casey Stoner

Casey Stoner has scoffed at suggestions that his early decision to sign for Honda has been prime factor in his failure to win a race in almost a year.

The Australian agreed to quit Ducati and move to HRC for 2011 at just the second race of the season in Jerez.

But the 2007 world champion denied that his form had suffered as a result of his future being sorted at such an early juncture in the season.

“This has nothing to do with it. This was an early decision this year and I still expected to be faster and winning races, “said the 24-year-old.

Stoner’s patience also snapped recently in Misano when he was asked about the impressive pace of 2011 team-mate Dani Pedrosa.

He said: “I’m not interested. I have to worry about us at the moment. I don’t give a crap about what everybody else is doing because at the moment we’re struggling with our bike.”

Stoner’s last MotoGP victory came last October when he dominated the Sepang race in Malaysia.