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Wayne Gardner believes fellow former world champion Casey Stoner will return to MotoGP racing, saying the novelty of driving a V8 Supercar had already worn off for the two-wheel ace.
Stoner will jump back on a bike this week for a two-day test in Japan with Honda, barely nine months since quitting the sport.
He is slated for another two sessions in August to ride a prototype of Honda’s 2014 model.
Gardner said the 27-year-old’s reunion with his former MotoGP team is likely to reignite his passion for grand prix competition.
“If the tests go well and if the lap times are there, and if he’s developing the bike with Honda, I think they’ll probably say `why don’t you go and do a race or two?'” Gardner said, despite Honda already ruling out a wild card race for Stoner in 2013.
“In most cases for people who retire and then come back, it turns into a disaster. The difference is that Casey is obviously an exceptional talent (and) he’s still relatively young.
“He’s still got time, and I don’t doubt his ability. I think he can come back I don’t think he’s lost it overnight.”
Like Stoner, Gardner switched from two to four wheels in the Australian Touring Car and V8 Supercars championships – five years after winning the 1987 500cc motorcycle world championship.
The 53-year-old said he was surprised Stoner decided to test a MotoGP bike so soon into his retirement and with three rounds still to go in his maiden season in the V8 Supercars second-tier series.
“I think Casey was excited to jump into a V8 initially, but I think the novelty has worn off and the results haven’t been there, so he’s looking for that adrenaline rush again,” he said.
“I didn’t expect he’d want to get back on the bike again, (but) I think he did the V8s as a replacement for a MotoGP bike. I can say, and I’m well experienced in that area, it will never replace the excitement.
“When I drove touring cars it never replaced the thrill of riding a grand prix bike. It’s very hard to find anything in the world to replace (that).”
Australian MotoGP organisers on Monday said they hoped to get Stoner down to Phillip Island for this year’s event in October after announcing his link-up with Honda.
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