Stoner unconcerned about win-less year

The Ducati rider, the 2007 world champion, has finished on the podium five times this year, but has been unable to climb on the top step so far.

Despite the lack of results, however, Stoner says he has been very happy with his performances.

"Not at all, to be honest," Stoner said when asked if he was concerned about finishing the season with no wins. "I'm happy with my riding. When I get really angry is when there's something definitely wrong or with myself, because I don't think I've been performing for some reason.

"But this year to be honest I'm really happy with the way I'm riding, training, everything, I'm very happy. I can't be disappointed with that.

"Of course I'm disappointed with my results and that's why I'm taking a few more risks with set-up. But nothing to be worked up about. I just have to forget about this year at the end of it.

"We still have some more races to do and we are trying to get a little bit more speed. But it's been a difficult season. I can't seem to get more out of myself or the bike."

He added: "I'm not getting desperate. Like I said I would be if I wasn't happy with my performances or I'd be really angry if things were constantly going wrong. They aren't constantly going wrong.

"We just don't have enough speed. I'm happy with the way I'm riding, my attitude... We are trying to get some solutions to improve the results, but that's it."

The Australian, who will ride for Honda next year, believes last weekend's race at Indianapolis would have been his best chance to fight for victory had he not crashed out.

And Stoner admits he is unlikely to be able to have a better chance in the remaining races of the year.

"The best opportunity I had to win was in Indianapolis and even there I think Dani was just a little bit faster and I might have been able to finish second quite confidently. We definitely had the speed for that. There's no circuits coming up. We've got to find some genius thing which if I haven't found by now I don't think we are going to.

"Normally at the start of the season we are struggling and slowly get the bike better. But we got the bike working pretty well at the beginning of the season and we haven't been able to improve it, so I don't think there's anything more to come."