Stoner predicts another huge battle

Stoner narrowly defeated title rival Valentino Rossi and Dani Pedrosa after a race-long dice at Catalunya - with the Ducati and the Yamaha swapping places countless times in the closing stages.

The Australian reckons the Donington Park crowd could see just as competitive a contest in tomorrow's race.

"There are going to be a few people quite fast tomorrow I think," said Stoner.

"We are going to be quite strong but there are also a few other riders, both tyre manufacturers are going to be strong and I think we could see a very good race tomorrow. Maybe something like Barcelona again.

"I don't know if it will be with me or another rider, I think there are a few riders capable of running at the front."

Stoner tipped Suzuki's John Hopkins, who has qualified alongside the Ducati rider in sixth, to join the lead battle in the race.

"John Hopkins will be quite fast as well," said Stoner.

"In the past races he has been coming stronger and stronger, and I think a lot of people forgot that John was quite strong in Barcelona and it was only the last five laps he could not keep the pace. He has been quite strong as this circuit in the past and we will see who else is fast tomorrow."

The championship leader looked set for pole at Donington until losing time in the final sector of the lap and having to settle for fifth.

Although he had a notable slide at the Goddards hairpin, Stoner said there were other issues during the lap.

"It wasn't so much that little wobble, we were having a few problems with the electronic systems today - only with the qualifying tyre though, with the race tyre it was perfect," he said.

"With the qualifying tyre there were too many engine cuts and we were losing too much exit speed, and going into the last corner I clicked into neutral rather than going into first gear and I carried too much speed on the entrance and by the time I got the first gear I had to brake a little bit too deep and it just wasn't meant to be.

"I am a little bit disappointed today because for sure I knew we could be on the front row, we were very fast on the race tyres and didn't need to go much faster on the qualifying tyre to be on the front row, but this is good enough for me."