Injury worry saps Casey Stoner's confidence

CASEY Stoner needs just one crucial ingredient to restore himself as the world's fastest man on two wheels at Phillip Island on Sunday.

CASEY Stoner needs just one crucial ingredient to restore his reputation as the world's fastest man on two wheels at Phillip Island on Sunday.

"Just confidence," said Stoner in advance of his farewell ride in the Australian Grand Prix.

Stoner's body and mind have taken a battering over the past two months as he chases a record sixth consecutive victory at the island. He admits that, since his return from ankle surgery, "there has been something holding me back".

A frustratingly slow healing process and the prospect of further debilitating injury have dampened his free-wheeling style that has delivered 37 GP wins and two world titles.

Stoner, 27 and just two races short of retirement in November, is unwilling to predict an outcome for his home race at his favourite circuit.

"I know I am not at 100 per cent and, to win at this level, everything has to be very close to 100 per cent to feel fantastic. I'm still not riding as free as I would like but there is always time and I have two more races to go."

Since he won his first Australian GP with Ducati in 2007, Stoner has been untouchable at Phillip Island and has continued his domination since switching to the Honda team last year.

"I'm just hoping to be competitive at least once more before the end of the season," he said. "The thing is I'm not fully healed. Most people would have waited a lot longer before coming back and I should have, but I can't. I haven't got much time left before the end of my season.

"If I was in much better shape and I crashed and hit my foot, it would not be a problem but, if I do that now, then I am going to put myself back another four or five months."

Doctors have told Stoner that any small bump could badly damage his weakened ankle.

"If I dislocate it again, I'm in strife. We are talking broken ligaments -- not just torn," he said. "Last Sunday in Sepang, I went thinking I'd just go around carefully, finish the race and not take any risks."

Stoner's two comeback races, riding with a still weak and inflexible right ankle, have produced a fifth (Japan) and a third place (Malaysia).

The final curtain will be the Valencia GP in November but it is the island race that is the focus, for Stoner and for a near sellout crowd that is forecast for the Australian Grand Prix.

Spanish riders Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) and Dani Pedrosa (Honda) will fight out the title and are separated by just 23 points with two races to go.

AAP