Stoner focused on Phillip Island

Casey Stoner is determined to bid for a record sixth straight MotoGP win at Phillip Island.

Casey Stoner is determined to bid for a record sixth straight MotoGP win at Phillip Island, despite being devastated by the worst ankle injury of his career.

The world champion is set to undergo specialist surgery in Australia to repair what he describes as "seriously torn ligaments in critical areas".

The surgery to his right ankle could sideline Stoner for seven weeks, when he hopes to be fit enough to compete in the final races of the season.

Stoner is determined to defend his Australian Grand Prix crown on October 28 before he retires from MotoGP in November.

The Australian is also targeting the Malaysian GP on October 21.

"Being at Phillip Island is definitely my goal at the moment," Stoner said.

"I would like to be ready one race before then. As long as things are set so I can't cause any more damage, then I'll have a go.

"I don't really care about pain but if there is any chance of doing huge damage then there is no point.

"I'm definitely planning to be fit and ready for the Island. It is the one race I don't want to miss. Until I have the surgery I can't say exactly when I can return."

Stoner said the injury setback had not led to any thoughts that he should postpone retirement and race on in 2013 in hope of ending his career on a high note.

"I'm not in this championship to wait and finish it perfectly in a big fairytale," he said.

"I'm not racing next year. I could have a similar issue and something else could go wrong.

"I still have a season to complete. I want to get back to racing as soon as possible."

Stoner missed Sunday's Czech GP at Brno after being advised of the need for urgent surgery by Newcastle sports physician Neil Halpin.

"I have to wait for the swelling to go down before surgery. Everything is lined up for this week," he said.

"I've always trusted Neil and he is very honest. But as soon as he read the report from the Indianapolis hospital he said get off the foot. If I injured it again it could cause a lot of issues."

The extent of the injury, suffered in a high speed crash in qualifying at Indianapolis 10 days ago, confirms Stoner's heroic effort to finish fourth in that race.

lVeteran Greg Murphy got behind the wheel of his V8 Supercar yesterday for the first time since May as he aims to return for this year's endurance races.

The four-time Bathurst 1000 champion took part in a ride day at Sydney Motorsport Park, the first time he has driven his Kelly Racing Holden Commodore since undergoing back surgery.

It raises hopes the 40-year-old New Zealander will be able to resume driving duties for this year's endurance events at Sandown and Bathurst alongside co-driver Owen Kelly.

"It's not a bad way for me to ease back into it," Murphy told motorsport website Speedcafe.com.

"There's quite a lot of rides to do today, and Owen is going to be there, so that will relieve some of the strain on myself getting back in."

In Murphy's absence his No 51 Commodore has been driven by David Russell in Darwin before ex-Formula One world champion Jacques Villeneuve jumped into the seat for Townsville, Queensland Raceway and last weekend's round at Sydney Motorsport Park.
AAP