Red Bull deal drives speculation of Casey Stoner in V8

TRIPLE Eight Racing boss Roland Dane claims he hasn't held talks with Casey Stoner despite speculation the MotoGP star could switch to four wheels.

TRIPLE Eight Racing boss Roland Dane has claimed he hasn't held discussions with Casey Stoner despite mounting speculation the world champion will join the all-conquering team.

Rumours of a Stoner V8 switch intensified yesterday after the motorcycle star's personal sponsor Red Bull was announced as Triple Eight's new major partner from next season.

In a huge coup for Triple Eight and V8 Supercars, the energy drink giant will make a long anticipated entry into the sport, and will replace Vodafone as the major sponsor of the three-time championship winning team.

Red Bull is arguably the most sought-after sponsor in motorsport with the Formula One Red Bull Racing team and the Red Bull-backed Citroen Total World Rally Team two of the most powerful, and successful teams in world sport.

News of the Red Bull coup sparked fresh speculation into Stoner's future. The two-wheeled star was already linked to a Triple Eight move earlier this year following his bombshell MotoGP retirement announcement.

The usually media savvy Dane remained tight-lipped when it came to the sponsor, refusing to com-ment and pointing to an official statement.

However the powerful boss and V8 Supercars board member did dismiss talk of a Stoner coup by claiming he has not held discussions with the Red Bull-backed athlete.

"I have not seen him since the beginning of the year," Dane said.

"There has been no talk."

Champion drivers Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup are contracted to the Triple Eight Racing next year and Dane said he would not be running a third car next season, which would be needed to accommodate Stoner.

"We have never been any different, we were always going to be two cars," Dane said. "Absolutely it will be two cars."

Triple Eight Racing and Red Bull released a short statement confirming the deal yesterday.

"We are thrilled by the prospect of Red Bull becoming our naming rights partner from 2013 and are confident the deal will be finalised in the coming weeks," Dane said.

Jason Sargent, managing director of Red Bull Australia, said he was looking forward to partnering the championship-winning V8 Supercar team.

"Given Red Bull's successful history in motorsports, we are very excited to form a partnership with Australia's leading motorsport team," Sargent said.

Dane said he could not confirm details of the deal because of his current arrangement with Vodafone, who will pull the plug on the team at the end of the year.

"We are not commenting any further in respect to our current sponsors," Dane said.

"In due course we will provide further details but for now that is it."

Stoner was linked to Triple Eight Racing earlier this year with Whincup predicting a V8s move for the rider who has declared his interests in Supercars.

"Casey is my friend and a friend of the team," he said.

"He is one of the best talents Australian motorsport has seen. We spent a lot of time together at Bathurst last year, and also on the Gold Coast, and I know he was frustrated.

"He has decided to come back to Australia and raise his family here, and show his skills at a different sport.

"The big rumour is that he will come to Team Vodafone with a third entry."