Stoner to make amends at Spanish MotoGP

World MotoGP champion Casey Stoner has unfinished business at Jerez in Spain this weekend.

Last year's Spanish Grand Prix was one of only four races where the 22-year-old Australian failed to snare a podium finish en route to the world title.

Stoner will line up at Jerez confident following recent testing at the track and with his race-winning start to the season.

The Ducati star recently picked up where he left off last year when he won the Qatar Grand Prix under lights at Losail.

And last month Stoner set the fastest lap in wet conditions during the official MotoGP test at Jerez and also found encouraging pace in the dry.

"You could say that Jerez last year wasn't one of our best races, but winter testing went well there and with the general improvements we've made since last year I think we can be competitive next weekend," Stoner said.

As always tyre compounds and selections will be key to a good race.

"We worked well with the Bridgestone technicians there and tested a lot of different types of tyre, so we should be well prepared to pick the right one for the race," Stoner said.

Stoner has predicted a more furious battle for the championship this year with several rookies wasting no time joining the fight, along with five-time world champion Valentino Rossi.

Spanish Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo made his debut in the elite class in second place in Qatar, ahead of countryman Dani Pedrosa.

Rookies Andrea Dovizioso of Italy and Briton James Toseland, the world superbike champion, were fourth and sixth respectively while Rossi finished the opening race in fifth spot.

"There are a lot of riders who have started the season strongly, especially the rookies, amongst them riders who will want more of the same and riders racing at home, so they'll be very motivated," Stoner said.

"We have to try to make sure we do our job well and then try to achieve the best result possible."

Ducati's race director Livio Suppo said Stoner was in "incredible form" this season.

"His confidence in the bike and the tyres is definitely even higher than it was a year ago," Suppo said.</p>