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TOKYO - Ducati's Casey Stoner wants to wrap up his first MotoGP world title in style with victory at the Japanese Grand Prix this weekend.
The baby-faced Australian is aiming to become his country's first champion since Mick Doohan won the last of his five 500cc crowns in 1998 at Sunday's race in Motegi.
Italy's Valentino Rossi kept his title hopes alive, mathematically at least, by winning in Portugal last week but he still trails Stoner by 76 points with just four races left.
Stoner has pledged to simplify the possible permutations involved by claiming his ninth victory in 15 races, which would make him the second youngest premier-class champion ever.
"I really want to win a few more races before the end of the season," said the 21-year-old, who finished third in Estoril last Sunday.
"If we focus on winning races then the championship should come. We weren't so lucky (in Portugal) but I think we should be able to come back strong at Motegi."
Rossi has already conceded the championship to Stoner but victory in Japan would be a remarkable 50th for the Yamaha rider since the four-stroke MotoGP formula was introduced in 2002.
"We're not thinking of the title. It's probably out of our reach," said the former Honda rider, who won the 500cc crown in 2001 before storming to four MotoGP titles in a row from 2002.
"It was fantastic to win in Portugal and the motivation and confidence is very high. I've never won in Motegi with Yamaha so I will be doing my best to change that this week."
Rossi is the only rider who can realistically prevent Stoner being crowned world champion and giving Ducati their first MotoGP title.
Honda's Dani Pedrosa sits 99 points behind Stoner and it would require a miraculous chain of events for the pint-sized Spaniard to steal the title.
Stoner's first race at Motegi in MotoGP last year ended painfully as he crashed out early but with races still to come in Australia, Malaysia and Spain, he does not need to take risks.
- REUTERS
