Stoner keeping feet on the ground

MotoGP world championship leader Casey Stoner reckons he’s going to be keeping his feet firmly on the ground as he prepares to try and continue his brilliant start to the 2007 campaign in this weekend’s Spanish GP.

Stoner is still revelling in his stunning Ducati debut victory in Qatar earlier this month that made him the seventh youngest premier class victor in history.

Looking ahead to Sunday’s massive clash in Jerez – the first European GP of the season – Stoner said: “It’s a long season.We had a good first race and its nice to be leading the world championship but I’ve got to take the pictures now because we don’t know how long its going to last. In the race in Qatar the bike performed perfectly and we can’t really complain. We just need to do the best job we can this weekend and try and keep our feet on the ground.”

Stoner’s Qatar success made him the first Australian rider to win in all three current GP classes and he said it was in part due to his seamless transition from satellite Honda rider to factory Ducati rider alongside veteran Italian Loris Capirossi.

“I’ve felt very comfortable from the first test with Ducati and we are just doing the best job we can. We are trying to learn as much as we can and always making improvements. I hope we can have a long relationship and its going to be very fruitful and good one, “said Stoner, who is the first Australian to lead the premier class title scrap since Garry McCoy in 2000.