Australia’s 2007 MotoGP World Champion Casey Stoner is confident that he has what it takes to take victory at this weekend’s second round of the MotoGP World Championship at Jerez in Spain.

The Andalucian circuit has not traditionally favoured the characteristics of the Desmosedici, but a podium for Stoner in 2009 and the hard work carried out on the GP10 this winter by the Ducati Marlboro Team, Filippo Preziosi and his technicians in Borgo Panigale, should allow the Stoner and teammate Nicky Hayden to look forward to the weekend.

“It is pretty unusual for a GP to be postponed but like last year in Qatar it is the kind of thing we can’t predict or control so we just have to look ahead to Jerez and the job that awaits us there,” Stoner commented on the recently postponed Japanese GP due to the Icelandic volcano eruption.

“In the past it hasn’t been one of the more favourable circuits for us but we made some steps forward last year and finished on the podium. We start from zero this time around though and on Friday we’ll be working hard to find a set-up for the race.

“You need good handling for this track but also good stability and I think the direction we’ve taken with development of the GP10 should allow us to be competitive on Sunday.”

Teammate Hayden started off the season with a fourth at Qatar’s season opener, hoping to continue that same form into Jerez.

“We were all ready for a flyaway race and instead we’re going to Jerez for the first GP in Europe, where the paddock is all set up ‘properly’ with the motorhomes, hospitality units and all those fans!” the American said.

“Our target is to try to stay at the level we set ourselves in the first race and build on what we did out there. I know I have a good bike and a team that is fully behind me so I can’t wait to get back on track.”