Stoner happy after reverting to '08 engine

The reigning world champion had started using his older 2007 power-unit after the French Grand Prix but with some electronic engine tweaks being so successful in the recent test, he is now convinced the newer unit is much better.

"Off the bottom end it's not so lumpy and less susceptible to every bump (when exiting corners), which had caused the thing to pump," said Stoner, who was fastest in both Friday practice sessions for the British Grand Prix. "In the last few races it shook too much."

Although the older engine has more power and more acceleration, the latest spec of the newer version is actually quicker.

"In Barcelona we went instantly 0.5 seconds faster, and today everything came very easily. Even with a mistake at the first corner and then doing another lap to keep the tyres warm, it was still a good lap time. I had done 26 laps on a tyre that then did 1m 28.3secs."

Stoner seemed almost surprised that his lap time on race tyres was faster than last year's pole position, set on qualifiers.

"We feel fast and comfortable... It didn't feel like a qualifying lap; it felt easy and sweet to me."