The young Australian leads the Italian by a healthy margin of 76 points and if he finishes in front of him in the 24-lap race he will win the title that he has had in his sights since the opening round of the championship in Qatar way back in March.
Rossi, on the other hand, might be able to rain on Stoner’s parade and delay the inevitable for another week after a superb win in the bwin.com Grand Prix of Portugal on Sunday. His Fiat Yamaha and Michelin tyres for once stood up to the all-conquering combination of Stoner’s Marlboro Ducati and the
Bridgestone tyres in a thrilling race in which the Repsol Honda of
Dani Pedrosa also paid a large part.
The popular Italian won from the impressive Pedrosa with Stoner calmly picking up 16 precious points in third place despite a clutch problem. Stoner has already won eight grands prix this season and goes to Motegi circuit knowing that it suited the Ducati and Bridgestone tyres last year.
Loris Capirossi, riding the Ducati, was a comfortable winner from Rossi and also started the race from pole position. Capirossi also brought Ducati similar success at the race in 2005. A repeat performance by Stoner would bring Ducati their first premier class title and ironically at the Motegi circuit, which is owned by Honda.
World Champion
Nicky Hayden is also bouncing back to form after facing the same problems as team-mate Pedrosa. He looks likely to be handing over his title to Stoner in the next two races but he showed in Estoril that he will fight to the finish after grabbing his first pole position for a year.
John Hopkins moved back into fourth place in the Championship after his fifth place behind Hayden in Estoril, pushing his Rizla Suzuki team-mate
Chris Vermeulen back to fifth. Just ten points behind the Australian is
Marco Melandri who wants to finish his time at Gresini Honda with at least one more win before joining Stoner at Ducati next year. He was third last year behind Capirossi and Rossi.
