Suzuki hail Stoner's performance

Suzuki's Chris Vermeulen and John Hopkins have been the championship leader's closest rivals in recent races, and finished second and third behind him at Misano today.

Team boss Paul Denning said it was unfair that people so often highlighted Bridgestone's superiority or Ducati's straightline speed advantage rather than Stoner's riding.

"Rizla Suzuki would like to congratulate Casey Stoner on another unbelievable performance today," Denning said.

"There has been a lot of nonsense spoken in MotoGP this year regarding tyre regulations, engine performance, etc. etc.

"I believe that the difference at the moment is Casey and we're focusing our best efforts to improve our own performance to beat him and that's what everybody should be doing at this time."

Hopkins agreed that Stoner was the main factor in Ducati's current form.

"He deserves everything that he gets because the boy's riding hard," Hopkins said.

"He's focused and he's got his head on straight. He's pushing harder than anyone else, he's not making mistakes and he's doing a really good job.

"He's got a good package underneath him, but it's the man on top who's doing it."

Stoner has now won eight of this season's 13 races, including the last three Grands Prix, and has an 85-point championship lead in only his second season of MotoGP.