Stoner already looking ahead to 2009

One day after winning the MotoGP season-ending race in Valencia, Australian Casey Stoner has already turned his attention to the 2009 season.

Stoner and new teammate Nicky Hayden are testing the new factory Ducati over two days before Stoner returns to Australia and surgery on a wrist injury.

The 2007 world champion was forced to hand over his mantle to Italian star Valentino Rossi but has wrapped up a clear second place in the championship and signaled his intention to return stronger than ever next year.

Stoner’s longstanding left wrist injury meant he could not perform as well as he wanted to at times this season, but he admits two crashes midway through the year virtually sealed his fate.

Teammate Italian Marco Melandri, who never came to grips with the Ducati, has been dumped and replaced by American Nicky Hayden, the 2006 world champion.

And Stoner and Hayden are anxious to put 2008 behind them and begin early preparations for a bright start to their next campaign.

Stoner believes he will return to the battle stronger than ever and with a more competitive bike to challenge Rossi and Yamaha.

“Now I’m really excited about testing the new bike tomorrow,” Stoner said.

“It felt good the last time I rode it and I’m sure they’ve made it better, so hopefully we can have a good first session and go home for the winter full of optimism about next season.”

Stoner took a dominant victory in the final round of the season yesterday to secure second place in the Constructors’ World Championship for Ducati.

The win, at the circuit where he celebrated his debut success in the 125cc class back in 2003, was also the 150th for Australian riders in all Grand Prix classes.

Stoner’s sixth victory of the season means that the Italian factory have taken 17 wins from 36 races since the start of the 800cc era - an average of almost 50 per cent.

“We couldn’t really have asked for much more today,” Stoner said.

“To end a difficult season in this way is a fantastic feeling and it’s a nice way to thank everybody at Ducati for their hard work.

“Once again my crew got it right, finding a good setting for the bike despite limited dry track time.

“To be honest I was quite worried during qualifying because I didn’t have a good feeling at all.

“But by the time we put the softer tyres on the bike was already feeling better and then the guys did a fantastic job overnight and in the warm-up to iron out a few more of the problems.”

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