Australian Casey Stoner will return to the Silverstone Circuit in the United Kingdom this weekend for the fifth round of the MotoGP World Championship, upbeat and determined to reverse his fortunes after a horrid start to the 2010 season.

In a frustrating season for the Italian team so far, the marque’s lone MotoGP champion trails American teammate Nicky Hayden, both pushing to gain Ducati’s first podium of the year.

The former 2007 MotoGP World Champion last raced on the old layout in 2000 and 2001 when he was competing in the British championship, one of just a few riders who have competed at Silverstone previously in his career as the British Grand Prix switches from Donington Park.

“I am really pleased that MotoGP is going to Silverstone,” Stoner said, who is currently eighth in the championship standings. “I raced there when I was living in England, before I started in the world championship, but not on the current layout, which has been changed a lot for this year and there is really only one section left that I know.

“Anyway, it will be a fast circuit, one of the fastest on the calendar, and one of the most spectacular and I’m sure there will be a great atmosphere. I can’t wait to go there because I have always preferred Silvertsone to Donington Park. I think it will be more fun for the riders and for the fans too.”

The Northamptonshire track has previously hosted the British Grand Prix on no fewer than ten occasions from 1977 to 1986, before switching to Donington Park in 1987, where it remained up until last year.

2006 series champion Hayden attended a pre-event press conference in London yesterday at the famous Lord’s Cricket Ground alongside series leader Jorge Lorenzo and British riders Bradley Smith, Scott Redding and Danny Webb.

“I like the idea of going to a new track – it is exciting and it’s a challenge for the riders and for the team,” Hayden commented. “I have seen a video of the track and obviously the team have the layout, which we have looked at together and talked about what gear ratios we might need, things like that.

“It looks like a fast track and we have a fast bike so that is a positive start. We have an intense run of races coming up and even though unfortunately the race at Mugello didn’t go to plan we did a good job in practice there and we’ll be looking to do the same thing here.”

Team manager Vittoriano Guareschi also hopes to see the team improve for their first podium of the season.

“As far as I’m concerned this is the first time that the team goes to race at a new track so that will be a new experience for me,” the Italian commented. “On paper Silverstone appears very fast and this is a characteristic that both the riders and the bike will enjoy but, having said that, there are certain variables that we have to bear in mind.

“From the weather, that forecasts say will be good but in England you never know, to the nature of the circuit, the asphalt, and how quickly we’ll be able to find the right set-up. At Mugello last week we worked on some new set-up solutions that we may try at Silverstone or, depending on circumstances, during future race weekends”.