Suppo: Stoner could be stronger in 2008

The Australian rider won ten races last season to clinch his first MotoGP title in dominant fashion. Stoner had made his MotoGP debut the previous year with LCR Honda before moving to Ducati in 2007.

Suppo reckons Stoner will benefit from knowing the team and the bike better in 2008.

"He went extremely quick until the last test in 2007, so I expect great things," Suppo was quoted as saying by Motosprint magazine.

"I think he will benefit greatly from racing for the second consecutive year with the same team and the same bike, because many times last year he had problems related to his lack of experience with the team and the bike.

"In my opinion that was the thing he lacked the most."

Stoner will have Marco Melandri as his new teammate in 2008, and the Italian has so far struggled to get to grips with the Ducati.

Suppo believes Melandri deserves more time before judging his performances.

"Everybody says that, but if we look back, Casey was more or less in the same situation at this time last year," he said on Melandri's problems.

"He certainly didn't look like he was able to win the championship. He, too, struggled to find the feeling with our bike, so Marco deserves as much time as everyone else had."