MotoGP: Casey Stoner looks to get back on track in Estoril

Reigning world champion Casey Stoner is confident he can get the defence of his MotoGP crown back on track this weekend in Portugal.

The Aussie arrives in Estoril hoping to quickly banish the memory of his worst factory Ducati outing in last month’s Spanish GP in Jerez.

The 22-year-old was 11th in Jerez after he ran off track twice, which followed a perfect start to the defence of his world title when he dominated to win the season’s opening race in Qatar.

Stoner though is in positive mood that he will be able to return to the front this weekend after his third place in Estoril last year, which moved him to the brink of his first world title.

Stoner lost out in a tussle with Dani Pedrosa and Valentino Rossi in Estoril last season when he was hampered by a clutch problem.

But he said: “Without the clutch problem I had last year we’d have definitely been fighting for the victory on the last lap because I was faster at the end of the race and catching them a lot, but it was just too little too late.

“If I hadn’t lost that time I’d have been with them and still fighting for the lead. It was a bit disappointing but we were fast all through the practice sessions and hopefully we can take what we have learned from there and see what we can come up with.

“I’m sure we will be more competitive.”