Indy MotoGP: Casey Stoner eyes seven podiums to finish 2011

Casey Stoner has targeted extending his career best rostrum run in MotoGP until the end of the 2011 world championship campaign.

The Australian’s outstanding form in his first season as a factory Honda rider has seen him capture nine successive podium finishes heading into this weekend’s Indianapolis clash.

He’s scored six wins in the opening 11 races to open up a comfortable 32-point advantage over reigning world champion Jorge Lorenzo.

And the 25-year-old is concentrating on finishing each of the last seven races on the podium to strengthen his bid for a second world title, adding to his success at Ducati back in 2007.

Stoner said his points lead over Spanish Yamaha rival Lorenzo did give him a buffer for the final phase of the season and he told MCN: “I’ve gone into every race and attacked and when things weren’t 100 per cent I’ve still ridden within my limits and brought it home for a podium. If I continue to do that this year and when the opportunity to win presents itself I’ll take it. If not I’ll settle for what I can get, but I’d like to see if I can stay on the podium for the rest of the season. That would be fantastic but it will be hard work.”

The only blot on Stoner’s impressive record in 2011 came at the second round in Jerez when he was taken out of a rain-lashed race by a Valentino Rossi mistake.