Image: Supplied.

Retired Australian ace Casey Stoner will return to the cockpit of Ducati’s Desmosedici GP at Sepang later this month, due to take part in the first test of 2018 in Malaysia.

Stoner will join lead Ducati test rider Michele Pirro on track between 24-26 January alongside a host of manufacturer testers, leading into the first official pre-season test two days later.

Over a decade since Stoner won his first MotoGP championship with Ducati in 2007, it’s understood that he may turn his first laps on Ducati’s 2018 contender prior to Andrea Dovizioso and Jorge Lorenzo riding it in the following days.

This is the third-straight year that Stoner has formed an integral part of Ducati’s grand prix testing program, returning to the brand in 2016 and then continuing in the role last season. His most recent appearance came at Valencia during September.