Stoner Wants Strong Rossi Team

Moto GP world champion Casey Stoner has said for the good of the competition he wants to see Ducati and Valentino Rossi mount a serious challenge this year.

Rossi, 32, struggled in his first season on the Italian bike and failed to win a single race for the first time since his 125cc debut season in 1996.

Honda's Stoner won 10 races in 2011 to beat Jorge Lorenzo to the title.

"I'm hoping [Ducati] can put together a competitive bike this year because the championship needs it," he said.

"Regardless of what the riders want, everyone needs as many manufacturers at the front as possible."

The 26-year-old Australian, who has won the title twice, expects Yamaha's Lorenzo, from Spain, to again be his main rival when the new season starts in Qatar on 8 April.

"Jorge was first in 2010 and second in 2011 - he will always be there fighting," he said.

Rossi Considers 2014 Retirement

Italy's seven-time MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi is contemplating retiring after the 2014 season.

Before he quits though, the 32-year-old is keen to bring success to his Ducati team and wants to extend his contract before it expires at the end of 2012.

Rossi, who won his last title in 2009, said: "I want a new two-year contract with Ducati, maybe the last, and then I'll think about how to enjoy myself.

"I want to win something here, make Ducati grow and then stop."

Last year, Rossi failed to win a MotoGP race for the first time in his career as he finished in seventh place in the championship.

He has won nine championships, seven in the premier class, including five consecutive titles from 2001-05 and two more in 2008 and 2009, riding for Honda and Yamaha