Stoner: Honda still in contention

Honda have yet to win a race this season, but Stoner said he was bemused by reports of a crisis at the factory Repsol Honda squad.

"I don't know why people are saying all these things, because the Hondas have been on the podium so many times this year," he said.

"They've been doing quite well. For sure they're struggling a little bit, but we are also and we just keep trying to do the best job we can.

"Valentino and I have been pushing each other a little bit further in some races, and maybe there is one weak point in the Honda.

"But in Jerez it was second, in Qatar it was third, in Turkey it was second, in Le Mans it was second... all these positions from different Hondas that are supposedly not competitive. They're maybe just unlucky, just some other people find better solutions on the day.

"Maybe Dani could have won Donington in the dry, but it was wet. So you have to look at these sort of reasons."

He believes Pedrosa is still capable of closing the points gap.

"There's still a lot of races left in the season," Stoner said.

"If we're able to pull this many points on Dani, then he's able to pull them back, depending on what happens. So you never say never.

"Dani didn't have the best race at Donington for a few reasons, and wet weather is not normally his best situation, but he's been improving a lot lately. And at this racetrack maybe he just didn't find the correct setting for today and maybe he'll be back again at the Sachsenring - he had a good race there last year. I think you should never count people out."

Stoner also paid tribute to Pedrosa's teammate Nicky Hayden. The world champion had a difficult start to the season but returned to the podium at Assen.

"I'm not surprised by him today. I think the last two weekends he's been really good - he's been competitive wet and dry," said Stoner.

"I'm stoked for him. He's really been working hard. He's kept out all the bad press and the people speaking badly about him and he's concentrated on it, and now he's starting to prove again why he's the world champion."