Casey Stoner wants to concentrate on 2011 season rather than 1000cc racers - MotoGP News
The Repsol Honda team is set to resolve the issues with engine life-time, as the prime factory riders, Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa are gearing up to test the awaited new breed of 1000cc prototypes, running in 2012.
The Aussie rider and his Spanish team-mate will appear in the fourth round of the 2011 MotoGP season, being held at Le Mans on May 15. After the Monster Energy Grand Prix de France, both riders will land at Spain to test the Honda 1000cc machines on the
Jerez circuit. This will be the first time when Honda stars will test the 2012 prototype and also will be the debut European test.
Where, Casey Stoner is looking forward to get his hands on the Honda 1000, he still does not want to get distracted from it. Stoner is concentrating on the present 800cc championship campaign, with a single victory and a third place finish in the previous
three rounds.
His single victory present in the season was at the Qatar event and after three rounds he is placed at the third position, 24 points away from the championship point’s leader Jorge Lorenzo of Yamaha Factory Racing. Stoner’s team-mate Dani Pedrosa is one
position above from him, with just four points off from Lorenzo.
Stoner said, “I’m not that happy about testing a 1000 during a season in which we’re still racing 800s. I think it would be better to wait until the end of the season. But you can’t just develop a bike in a couple of months and have it out on track. Honda
needs some time.”
The Australian was happy, but a step down back to 800cc for the race is a little worry for him, as he added, "It is kind of exciting to get on the 1000 but you might not want to get back on the 800. It is going to be fun I’m sure, but I’m looking forward
more to next year to ride the bike.”
The first shake-down test of Honda 1000cc machine was done by test riders, Tady Okada and Shinichi Itoh at the Suzuka circuit.
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