Ducati not expecting Stoner title today

The Italian team's championship leader, Australian Casey Stoner, needs to score at least 15 points more than Fiat Yamaha rival Valentino Rossi at Estoril to take the title with four races to go.

But despite this morning's warm-up seeing the Ducati rider setting the fastest time with the Yamaha ending up only sixth, Suppo thinks the pace Rossi has shown so far this weekend should delay Stoner's title victory at least until next week's Japanese Grand Prix.

"I don't think the championship will be decided today because Valentino has a very good pace so I don't think it'll happen today already," Suppo told Italia1 television.

"We're are calm as usual, or at least no more nervous than we usually are before a race. Casey is always calm, he's had a fine warm-up this morning."

Suppo also explained that a left foot that caused Stoner some pain yesterday will probably not pose a problem today.

"Casey had a bit of a tendinitis in his left foot, the one that changes gears, but he's told me this morning he doesn't feel any pain," said Suppo.

"However he tends to always play these things down, he never likes to say that he's in pain or that something is wrong. We'll see, but he seems calm to me."