Casey Stoner’s decision to accept and test for Honda next month in Motegi has taken the hysteria of his eventual comeback to a whole new level.
The Australian continues to repeat that he is happy with his decision to retire and that he is just doing the tests to give Honda a helping hand and get the buzz of riding fast again.
HRC has denied that Stoner will be doing any wildcards this season, but The Australian Grand Prix Corporation’s chief executive Andrew Westacott is trying to convince the retired rider to race in this year’s Phillip Island GP.
Westacott told AAP, “I’d love him to be there (at Phillip Island) and if he can make it down, we’d throw out the welcome mat”… “We’ll have some conversations over the next three months now that there’s a little bit more of a plan when it comes to Honda’s involvement.
”After last year’s event that saw the track officially name turn 3, Stoner Corner and it was a bumper event for the circuit, that saw record breaking crowds (around 125,000) watch Stoner race and win for the 6th and last time, on the Australian circuit.
The Phillip Island GP generates on the average about $110m for the local economy.