European press sources report that Casey Stoner’s deal with Sito Pons’ MotoGP squad has fallen through, and that Stoner’s 2006 RC211V will be run by Lucio Cecchinello, Stoner’s former boss at his Aprilia 250cc team.
Apparently when Max Biaggi left the Pons squad, Camel’s sponsorship dollars went with him, and Pons has been unable to secure enough replacement sponsorship to fund a two-rider team.
It now seems likely that Pons will have only one rider for 2006, fielding Carlos Checa aboard a satellite Honda RC211V.
Stoner, meanwhile, has not yet signed with Cecchinello but is expected to do so soon. This comes as a surprise to many, since Stoner has already tested twice with the Pons squad despite not having signed a formal contract with them.
And we thought silly season was over.
