Ducati will embrace the return of their only MotoGP world champion when Casey Stoner returns to the red team as a brand ambassador and test rider in 2016.
Stoner won the 2007 MotoGP World Championship in his debut season with Ducati.
In four seasons with Ducati, Stoner won 23 races and he still holds a special place in the hearts of Ducati fans despite spending the past five years as a racer and test rider with Honda.
Stoner won his second MotoGP world title with Honda in 2011 before retiring at the end of 2012 and then continuing with HRC as an infrequent test rider.
With his Honda contract ending this year, Stoner was free to accept Ducati's offer to return and link with technical director Gigi Dall'Igna in a testing role.
However, the deal is not a signal that Stoner is making a return to the MotoGP championship with Ducati saying they understand that Stoner has "no interest" in racing full time.
As part of the agreement Stoner will appear at the 2016 edition of World Ducati Week from July 1-3 while also completing a selected number of MotoGP tests.
"For 2016 I am very excited to announce that I will again be joining the Ducati team," Stoner said.
"I have so many great memories working with the people and the brand of Ducati and the opportunity to work with them again is something very special.
"Gigi Dall'Igna has brought with him a new approach and I'm looking forward to assisting the team, Andrea Dovizioso and Andrea Iannone however I can."
Ducati has confirmed Dovizioso and Iannone as their two factory riders for the 2016 MotoGP championship.
Ducati traditionally run one of the busiest private test programs in MotoGP mostly based at their home circuit of Mugello and it is likely Stoner's talents will be put to more expansive use than the limited test opportunities with Honda.
“Casey Stoner has always remained in the hearts of all the 'Ducatisti' and I am really pleased that he has decided to come back to our family again," said Ducati Motor Holding CEO Claudio Domenicali.
"Casey has an extraordinary talent and with his experience he will be able to make an important contribution for Gigi and the two Andreas in the development of the Desmosedici MotoGP bike.
"His presence at World Ducati Week in 2016 will be a special gift for all the Ducati fans and enthusiasts, who will finally have the opportunity to catch up once again with this great champion who brought the 2007 world title to Borgo Panigale."
Stoner remains the last rider to win a MotoGP race aboard a Ducati with his 2010 victory in the Australian GP at Phillip Island.
The Ducati confirmation of a new deal with Stoner makes no mention of a one-off wild card race although that option is surely open now that Stoner is back in the Ducati fold.
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