MotoGP: Honda team boss rejects Stoner rumours

Current Honda MotoGP riders Marc Marquez (center) and Dani Pedrosa(left). Photo / AP

Honda team boss Livio Suppo has rejected continued speculation that Casey Stoner will return to MotoGP and could make a wildcard appearance in the Australian round at Phillip Island.

Two-time world champion Stoner has been doing some test riding for Honda in Japan but Suppo says the 27-year-old Australian has no plan to come out of race retirement, even for a cameo appearance.

"For every manufacturer, to have a fast test rider is something like a dream," Suppo told the AGP podcast.

"It's almost impossible to find a super-fast rider to do tests.

"With Casey, it was a perfect situation. Since he retired, we spoke about his dream to still ride the bike sometimes.

"Everybody expects this means he will come back racing, but that's not the case."

Suppo worked with Stoner at Ducati in the Australian's 2007 championship campaign and played a significant role in his move to Honda in 2011.

Stoner completed the first of four scheduled tests for Honda at the Motegi circuit earlier this month and, while he said it was "really good to get back on the bike after nine months", Suppo said the Australian wasn't about to change his stance on retirement.

"We are more than happy to have such a strong and fast rider in testing available, (and) Casey is very good at understanding the bike and giving suggestions to the engineers," he said.

"Even if he enjoyed the test, that doesn't mean he's thinking to do a wildcard."

-AAP