Capirossi confident of repeat win

The Italian feels that this year's Ducati will be well suited to the track, even though it has different characteristics to the Losail circuit where the GP7 bike was so fast in the hands of Casey Stoner last time out.

"The GP7 feels very good around Jerez, it's a little easier to ride than last year's GP6," said Capirossi, who crashed out in Qatar.

"The bike is more agile and more stable on the brakes, and the track is also good for Bridgestone, as our 2006 win proved."

Stoner is expecting to get even stronger as he spends more time with his new team, and he believes that there is more to come from the package.

"I'm so happy with the team and everything, and I feel like we'll get stronger as I get more used to the strengths of the bike and the tyres," said the championship leader.

However, the Australian did admit that the twisty circuit will require different characteristics to Qatar, where he was able to use the straight-line speed of the Ducati to hold off Valentino Rossi.

"Around a lot of the track you need a quick-turning bike," he said, "so you can enter the corners quick and get on the gas quick."