🀅UPDATE: Casey Stoner sends a further tweet, confirming he wanted to ride in place of Dani P🧸edrosa at the COTA MotoGP:

Bummer I'm not racing, no prep was needed as I wasn't planning on winning, just replacing a good friend and having some fun in Texas!:)-- Casey Stoner (@Official_CS27)

Reigning double MotoGP champion Marc Marquez says that he was unaware of Casey Stoner's interest in replacing the injured Dani Pedrosa.

Two time champion Stonܫer retired from MotoGP at the end of 2012, with Marquez then taking the Australian's place at the Repsol Honda team.

Still only 29, Stoner has frequently denied that he intends to ꩵreturn to MotoGP, d꧙espite continuing to test and develop RCV machinery for Honda.

But with💎 Pedrosa suddenly sidelined for at least the next two rounds due to arm-pump surgery, it appears Stoner contacted Honda about r♕iding as the Spaniard's replacement.

However Stoner's lack of preparation time 🌟on the latest RCV, plus no prior knowledge of the Texas or Argentina🐲 circuits, meant the decision was finally taken to select Hiroshi Aoyama instead.

"Honestly first time that I heard [Stoner wa📖s 💦interested in the ride] was yesterday because I didn't know about it," Marquez said at the Circuit of the Americas on Thursday, the Spaniard making clear that he had not blocked the move:

"Honda didn't ask me, before🐭 the decision from Honda. Yesterday when I ar💃rived here one mechanic said to me 'did you read the tweet from Casey?' and I didn't know about it.

"But yes, it was a decision from Honda so I w𝔉ill ♉respect it."

Marquez finished fifth in the season opening Qatar raceꦏ after running wide at turn one.

Sorry to everyone but I am not racing next weekend, it would have been an honour to ride for -- Casey Stoner (@Official_CS27)

Marquez has won from pole 💦at both previous COTA Mo🎃toGP races.