The ability of Stoner, the sheer speed of the Desmosedici down the huge 1.2km back straight and the consistent grip from his
Bridgestone tyres blew away the opposition -headed by seven times world champion
Valentino Rossi - one year ago.
But this year has been a very different story and the 22 lap race on Sunday could indicate if Ducati's recent troubles are just a temporary blip or something more serious.
22 year old Stoner currently lies fourth in the championship, despite victory in the opening round in Qatar. He trails joint championship leaders
Jorge Lorenzo and
Dani Pedrosa by 21 points with Rossi in third place, seven points in front of the Australian.
Bitter rivals Lorenzo and Pedrosa have both tasted success in Shanghai and arrive for another classic encounter full of confidence.
Lorenzo has been nothing short of sensational in his first three
MotoGP races, riding for Fiat Yamaha. He has started all three from pole, finished all three on the podium and scored his first MotoGP win at the last round in Estoril.
The double 250cc world champion, who is recovering from an operation to prevent 'arm pump', also won the 250cc Shanghai race last year. He celebrates his 21st birthday on Sunday, so it could be some party.
22 year old Pedrosa has an equally impressive record in Shanghai and shares the lead with Lorenzo after winning at
Jerez in Spain. The Repsol Honda rider won his first MotoGP race in China two years ago and is in tremendous form this year despite missing most of pre-season testing with a hand injury.
Contradicting rumours continue to circulate about whether Pedrosa and team-mate
Nicky Hayden will get to try the latest version of Honda's troubled pneumatic-valve engine this weekend or will continue to stick with the 'old' valve-spring design.
