Stoner positive after Sepang test

Casey Stoner gave a thumbs up to both his healed shoulder and his new Ducati GP8 bike on Tuesday after returning to action for the first time since his Jerez testing crash last year

The MotoGP champion ended the first day of this week's Malaysia test fifth fastest on the timesheets and, despite morning electrical troubles hampering his running, he was pleased with how the first day back in the saddle had gone.

"I'm really happy because in the past, for a variety of reasons, testing hasn't gone well at this circuit for me but today was quite a bit better," said Stoner.

"The shoulder isn't hurting so that's a bonus; it's just a little weak but that's not too much of a problem other than in the changes of direction, where we can't go as fast as we'd like.

"It's been quite hard to get my confidence back because after almost two months without riding and my two crashes in the last test at Jerez it feels a little bit like learning to ride again."

Stoner said that he felt his new bike's power delivery had improved and that Ducati were heading in the right direction with the machine.

"We lost a bit of time this morning but that kind of thing can happen with a new bike. I've got total confidence in Ducati and the bike was actually running really well in the afternoon - we just have to be a little patient.

"The GP8 has improved in terms of power delivery, which was one of our weak points, and even though I'm not yet riding as I'd like I think we're on the right lines.

"Towards the end of the session I tried the new Bridgestones and there were some encouraging things. We'll keep working on the new tyres tomorrow and hopefully the weather can be on our side like it was today."