Former MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner has come under pressure from within and outside his new Honda team even before he has turned a wheel in anger.
While Honda chiefs have said publicly 2010 was unacceptable, Stoner's compatriot and MotoGP kingmaker Jerry Burgess expects Honda to be the team to topple this year.
Burgess, the South Australian crew chief instrumental in the world titles of Mick Doohan and Valentino Rossi, says Stoner could stand in the way of Rossi's ambitions with Ducati.
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Stoner moved to Ducati after a debut season in the premier class with Honda in 2006 and immediately won the 2007 world title.
But a combination of poor form and illness prevented him from producing his best form last season.
He has now switched back to Honda while Rossi took up his spot after leaving Yamaha, where he collected four world titles.
Burgess, who has followed Rossi to Ducati, says Honda will be a major stumbling block, despite not having won a world crown since 2006.
He points to Stoner, compatriot Dani Pedrosa and the Italian pair of Andrea Dovizioso and Marco Simoncelli, who will also be on factory bikes.
"We know Casey is fast and the Honda is a well sorted bike and it's putting pressure on Dani," Burgess told motorcyclenews.com.
"I know Honda is gearing up for a big push and everybody can see that from the people they have hired and that's not only the riders.
"I guess everybody other than Yamaha is hoping for a change next season."
Yamaha will start with new world champion Jorge Lorenzo joining American star Ben Spies, who replaces Rossi.
"I think they (Yamaha) are in good shape. It is an opportunity for a change and they are in good shape in terms of riders," Burgess said.
Honda boss Shuhei Nakamoto, meanwhile, says 2010 was disappointing, despite the fact Pedrosa won four races, because the team could not properly challenge Yamaha.
However Pedrosa was out of action for some time after breaking his collarbone in the Japanese Grand Prix.
"If Dani didn't have his accident in Motegi I believe we could have taken the fight until the last Grand Prix," Nakamoto said.
"Unfortunately that happened and this year's final result I am so disappointed with.
"The overall package of rider and machine, I am happy to show that Honda is growing and getting better.
"Our base was competitive enough to fight this year and I hope next year we can show better results," he said.
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