Honda's team manager Livio Suppo has ruled out the prospect of Casey Stoner standing in for the injured Dani Pedrosa in the next few MotoGP races.
Pedrosa underwent surgery on an arm problem earlier this month and is set to miss the next two races in United States and Argentina.
Two-time world champion Stoner, a Honda tester who is to compete in the Suzuka 8 Hours, had been mooted as a short-term replacement although Suppo played down the chances of a return.
"Yes, we have talked about it," Suppo told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
"There were some pros, but more cons, so we decided it would be better to leave it. People don't realise how high the level [of competition]. Having won a lot doesn't mean one is immediately quick on his return.
"Casey doesn't know the upcoming two tracks, and in the last two years he has only run for four days with this bike.
"I understand a return may spark people's imagination, everyone would have liked it, but what if he wasn't quick? What would people have said and written then?"
Pedrosa will be replaced by Honda test rider Hiroshi Aoyama for the coming races.