Motorcycling-Fifth win shows Stoner is real rival to Rossi

DONINGTON PARK, England, June 24 (Reuters) American Colin Edwards needed just two words today to explain why Yamaha team mate Valentino Rossi has failed to dominate MotoGP this season -- Casey Stoner.

''Casey's doing a fantastic job,'' added the Texan, runner-up to Ducati's 21-year-old Australian after starting a wet British Grand Prix on pole position.

''Honestly speaking, Ducati and Bridgestone and Casey have a very good package.

''And he's got a hell of a lot of talent, he's fast as hell too. It's not just the package.'' While Stoner celebrated his fifth win in eight races, charismatic former champion Rossi managed to finish only fourth at one of his favourite circuits and is now 26 points adrift with 10 races remaining.

The championship is still wide open but Stoner, the revelation of the season, has demonstrated conclusively that he is the real deal and not about to fade away or wilt under pressure.

After taking his first MotoGP win in the Qatar season-opener, he has only got stronger. His team mate Loris Capirossi has scored less than half as many points and crashed out today.

CONFIDENT STONER ''I'm enjoying the races as they come,'' said Stoner, putting talk of the title to the back of his mind. ''I've got that confidence in myself and the bike and I'm able to really get myself involved in the race and enjoy it.'' While Rossi struggled for grip today, Stoner went from seventh place at the end of the first lap to a commanding victory at a circuit he had denounced earlier as too slippery.

Worried about his rear tyre degrading on a drying track, he even sought out the wet patches to limit wear in the closing stages.

Stoner said Sunday's win showed he and Ducati were contenders in all conditions and at all kinds of circuits.

''I've proved to a lot of people that Ducati doesn't just have power,'' he said.

''We've been improving the bike all the time in its weak points and now it doesn't have any in particular. We need to improve it as a complete package but today it was the best bike working out there.

''He (Rossi) doesn't have a lot of weaknesses but I'm not necessarily worried about him,'' added the Australian. ''I'm going to go and do my own thing and try and be as fast as I can and get ourselves as best prepared for the races as we can.

''In the last two races it has obviously worked.'' REUTERS JT BST0028