Following months of speculation, Ducati has confirmed its partnership with two-time MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner has come to an end following a three-year period as a test rider and brand ambassador.

Ducati released a statement declaring Stoner’s contribution was important to the manufacturer, assisting it in constantly improving the performance of the Desmosedici GP, while also playing a role the final development of the Panigale V4.

“I want to thank Ducati for the great memories and especially the support and enthusiasm of the Ducati fans for our shared passion for racing and motorcycling, I’ll always remember this,“ said Stoner.

“Over the past three years I have really enjoyed doing my job with the test team, the engineers and technicians, as we worked towards improving the Desmosedici GP package and I sincerely want to wish the team all the very best for their future endeavours.”

Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali commented: “Casey is and will always remain in the hearts of Ducatisti and it is also on their behalf that we wish to thank him for the important collaboration he has offered us over the last three years. His technical indications and suggestions, together with the work and the feedback of the factory riders and Michele Pirro, have helped to make the Desmosedici GP one of the most competitive bikes on the grid.

“His advice for the development of our production bikes has been just as precious and useful. Ducati and its many fans wish to offer their sincere thanks and their best wishes to Casey and his family for a serene and happy future.”

The Australian captured his maiden premier class crown with Ducati in 2007, which marks the company’s sole MotoGP championship to date.

Penrite Honda Racing guest Cameron McAdoo has dubbed his SX2 victory on Saturday night at the Monster Energy AUS-X Open Sydney as one of the best of his career.

The American was called into the squad for the final round of the Australian Supercross Championship, replacing injured countryman Bradley Taft.

The number 44 lodged a supremely consistent 2-2-2 scorecard in the Triple Crown secure the overall victory in his Australian debut, edging out two-time Australian champion Jackson Richardson (Penrite CRF Honda Racing) by a slender one point margin.

“I am so happy, this is what we wanted but I didn’t know how I would fair against everyone,” McAdoo explained. “There are some fast guys in Australia and to take the win is amazing. his is one of my best wins of my professional career and I couldn’t be happier for the team and everyone that helped make this happen.

“The team is top class, everyone was so accommodating and I knew we had a competitive package following our first test. We only had to make a few minor adjustments and it was all sorted efficiently. I came into race day really prepared considering the turnaround.”

McAdoo is set to return home to America as Penrite Honda Racing SX1 contenders Justin Brayton and Brett Metcalfe head to New Zealand on 24 November for the S-X Open Auckland.

The provisional 2019 Motul FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) calendar has been revealed, indicating the dates and locations for majority of the 13-stop series.

The 2019 championship is set to see the introduction of a three-race format, where race one will remain on the Saturday of each round, while races two and three will be hosted on Sunday, boasting a sprint-length outing on Sunday morning before a traditional-length encounter in the afternoon.

The opening round of WorldSBK will take place at Phillip Island on 22-24 February, before heading to Thailand for round two on 15-17 March. First of the European rounds is Aragon in Spain on 5-7 April, followed by Assen in The Netherlands on 12-14 April and Imola in Italy on 10-12 May.

Spain’s Jerez will host round six on 7-9 June before the series heads to Misano, Italy, on 21-23 June. Round eight is scheduled for 5-7 July Donington Park in the UK, while round nine is still to be announced.

Following the European summer break, racing resumes on 6-8 September in Portugal ahead of round 11 at Magny Cours in France, set for 27-29 September. Argentina will host the penultimate round on 11-13 October, with series wrapping up in Qatar on 24-26 October.

Provisional 2019 WorldSBK calendar:
Rd1- 22-24 February – Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, Australia
Rd2 – 15-17 March – Chang International Circuit, Thailand
Rd3 – 5-7 April – MotorLand Aragon, Spain
Rd4 – 12-14 April – TT Circuit Assen, The Netherlands
Rd5 – 10-12 May – Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari di Imola, Italy
Rd6 – 7-9 June – Circuito de Jerez, Spain
Rd7 – 21-23 June – Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, Italy
Rd8 – 5-7 July – Donington Park, UK
Rd9 – 19-21 July – TBA
Rd10 – 6-8 September – Autodromo Internacional do Algarve, Portugal
Rd11 – 27-29 September – Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, France
Rd12 – 11-13 October – Circuito San Juan Villicum, Argentina
Rd13 – 24-26 October – Losail International Circuit, Qatar

Team Australian has taken charge of the 2018 FIM International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) in Chile after surging ahead in the World Trophy category, comfortably defeating the USA and Italy on day two.

Unfortunately, the squad saw Lyndon Snodgrass (KTM Enduro Racing Team) drop out of the competition, meaning Australia can no longer afford another mistake for the remainder of the event with all rider scores counting.

In the Junior World Trophy class there was no stopping Italy as they powered their way to another day win. Setting the pace in this year’s race, the team edged out USA and France, with Australian winding up in fourth.

Feeling at home in the dry and dusty conditions, Team Australia were able to build on their lead in the Women’s World Trophy competition. The trio of Tayla Jones (Husqvarna), Jessica Gardiner (Yamaha) and Mackenzie Tricker (KTM) now enjoy a three-minute advantage over the USA and Spain.

In the individual classification, Taylor Robert (KTM Factory Racing) from the USA maintains his overall lead by three seconds from Daniel Milner (KTM Enduro Racing Team), who won day two. Milner holds a 17-second advantage over Australian teammate Daniel Sanders (Husqvarna Enduro Racing) in the E3 category, as Robert and Davide Guarneri (Honda) lead the E2 and E1 class respectively.

Aussie contender Fraser Higlett (Husqvarna Enduro Racing Team) is ranked sixth in the E1 category after the opening two days, while Josh Strang (Husqvarna) holds down seventh in the E2 overall standings. Behind fellow Australians Milner and Sanders in E3 are Thomas Mason (KTM) and Andrew Wilksch in 11th and 13th respectively. Jones controls the individual Women’s standings followed by compatriots Tricker and Gardiner in fifth and sixth.

Detailed results