So often the benchmark rider and team combination, Marquez and Honda will split at the end of the season as Marquez aims to becom𝄹e a MotoGP race winner again.

Honda’s fall from the top of MotoGP has been sudden, as the likes of Ducati, KTM and Apri💦lia have out-developed the Japanese brand in recent seasons.

• Aust꧃ralian 𓄧MotoGP race swap: ‘Safety the most important factor’ 
• Binder ‘would♉ love’ first MotoGP pole but ‘the race is more important’

But would Stoner, who enjoy𝓀ed a MotoGP title win with both manufacturers, have made the same call?

Speaking to TNT Sport🌃s, Stoner said: “Not if the manufacturer waꦫs showing me that they’re trying their hardest. 

“If you’re putting in all your effort and they are, then it’s like winn♈ing together෴, losing together and let’s grow old together sort of thing. 

“But if they're not showing him the same effort that he’s putting in; maybe he’s seen things coming too slowly and are showing no ambition to speed things up, then you’ve kind of got to really ge♋t out there as a career doesn’t last forever. 

“It’s better to move ꦛon, at least for a year and see how thing🅘s go.”

Many expect Marquez to become an instant threat for race wins and even the championship when the 2024 season 🌼begins, something Stoner als💟o feels is a very realistic possibility. 

Stoner added: “The championship? That’s a difficult subject - I would say he’s st🌟ill the fastest rider on the grid but maybe he’s overstated what he thinks these Ducatis are. 

“We saw Rins win [on a Honda] and do great before he got injured. We know that the bike was fine at the beginning of the y🤡ear but then they all seemed to struggle. 

“Without doubt there’s a cha🤪nce, a very strong cꦏhance.”

Bagnaia struggling, again! 

One of the big storylines from day-one of the Australian MotoGP was theꦓ difficulties Francesco Bagnaia was facing.

The championship leader missed o♌ut on the top ten in Practice, meaning he will need to go through Q1 like in Mandalika last weekend. 

“He 🌞seemed to be struggling a bit. It didn’t seem to be anything with the set-up, just with the front-end,🌊” said Stoner.

The Australian, who worked with Bagnaia’s current crew chief 🌳Christian Gabbarini, went on to discuss the impact he can have due to his success and ability to remain calm.

“Christian [Gabbarini] is a fantastic engineer. I𝔍 think he’s won with every rider he’s worked with in MotoGP. I was his first and then everyone since he’s won races with. 

“My꧅self, Marc, Jackꦕ Miller, Pecco and Jorge Lorenzo. It’s quite a spread to work with. What he was best at is keeping a nice calm garage. 

“He’s fantastic at cಌoming in and getting information out of you.”