Stoner in confident mood for Germany

The Australian qualified on pole position for last year's event but slipped back to fifth in the race with a tyre problem.

But he's confident that progress made by Bridgestone will allow him to add to his wins in the last two rounds at Donington Park and Assen.

"We're quite confident for Sachsenring where we were competitive last year," he said. "It was only an issue with tyre life that prevented us from fighting for victory and I'm sure that problem won't happen again this year.

"Bridgestone haven't stopped working and the bike has been perfect for the last two races, so I expect it to go well at Sachsenring too.

"The track is a little different to most of the others because there are such long corners, which I don't like too much, but there are also some fun points and I'm happy to go racing there."

Stoner's Marlboro Ducati teammate Marco Melandri has gone well at the German track in the past and is hoping to turn his fortunes this year around at a circuit he enjoys riding on.

He won at Sachsenring three times in four years between 1999 and 2002 in the 125cc and 250cc classes, and also finished second there in the top class in 2006.

"It's one of my favourite tracks because of the good results I've had there," he said. "I've always had fun there and I hope I do again because that would mean things are improving."