Honda cagey over Casey Stoner talks

Honda management are being cagey about an approach for 2007 world champion Casey Stoner.

The Australian’s father and manager Colin Stoner attended last weekend’s Spanish MotoGP race at Jerez where he held discussions with both Ducati and Honda for 2011.

Stoner is one of the big four that are out of contract at the end of the current season, and the 24-year-old is a top target for HRC having won 20 races for Ducati since the beginning of ’07.

Honda is being closely linked with a swoop for Stoner as it tries to find a winning formula for the first time since Nicky Hayden in 2006.

Dani Pedrosa is in his fifth season in Honda’s factory squad in 2010 but has still not convinced people that he is a serious title threat.

And easing Honda negotiations with Stoner is the fact that Livio Suppo is now in charge of all rider discussions at HRC.

Suppo was the man who signed Stoner to Ducati at the end of 2006 and the Italian is well aware of the influence and impact that he could have on the success starved Japanese factory.

Suppo told MCN: “I think it is very early but we all know the top four guys are ending their contract and everybody is going to speak with everyone. Everybody is looking and trying to understand the situation.

“I spoke with Colin (in Jerez). The goal of Honda is to make it the place to be and we are working towards that.

“The strength of Casey is that he is immediately fast and always very fast and for me this is very important for a technician to collect information.

“His attitude to be immediately fast and his ability to choose a different set-up and still make a lap time helps the company understand the situation a lot. This is the big strength for Casey.”

Despite the big interest from Honda, many paddock insiders believe that Stoner will sign a contract extension with Ducati.