Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/448799
IN THE WIND P26 STONER STAYS PUT H onda Racing Corporation says it has retained the ser- vices of two-time World Cham- pion Casey Stoner through 2015. "We are very happy to be able to start 2015 by announcing the continuation of our relation- ship with Casey and keeping him in the Honda family," HRC Executive Vice President Shuhei Nakamoto said via a release. "The feedback he gives HRC is invaluable and we are fortunate to have a test rider capable to push the RC213V to its limits" "After having a long break from riding, it was refreshing to get back on a bike a few months ago," Stoner said. "Now after a relaxing Christmas and New Year I'm happy to announce that I've been speaking to Nakamoto san and we have come to an agree- ment in continuing our relation- ship. I am currently preparing to ride in Sepang in a few weeks, which will be very different weather and humidity to Motegi. So I need to get myself fit!" The 2007 and 2011 MotoGP World Champion will test for two days in Sepang between the 29th and 31st of January, prior to the first Official IRTA pre- season test. A second test will take place towards the end of the year, but no date is confirmed at present. Two-time MotoGP World Champion Casey Stoner will continue to help Honda with RC213V testing. DU QUOIN, INDY MILE ADDED A MA Pro Racing announced the ad- dition of two historic Grand National Championship events to the 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track schedule: the Du Quoin and Indy Mile. For the first time in nearly a decade, the series will return to the Du Quoin Mile at the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds on July 4. AMA Pro Flat Track last raced at the Du Quoin Mile in 2005, where Chris Carr took his only career victory on the "Magic Mile" to conclude his sev- enth and final championship-winning season. The series will also return to the legendary Indy Mile at the Indiana State Fairgrounds on July 11, a month earlier than normal and unfortu- nately away from the MotoGP weekend. Family Events—the promoter for both Du Quoin and Indy—said that with the MotoGP weekend being moved up a week created a schedule conflict with the Indiana State Fair. Both events will feature the fastest dirt track motorcycle racers in the world competing aboard twin-cylinder machines in the premier GNC1 divi- sion, with the up-and-coming stars of the sport also showing their mettle on the twins in the GNC2 class. The two races, along with both stops at the Springfield Mile, make four GNC2 twins events in 2015. After a 10-year absence, the Du Quoin Mile is back on in 2015.