By Matt Roberts BBC MotoGP reporter

They could hardly come from more contrasting backgrounds, but when Kimi Raikkonen and Casey Stoner met on the snowy slopes of the Dolomites, they showed they have more in common than just being world champions.

The traditional pre-season knees-up held by Italian allies Ferrari and Ducati at the Madonna di Campiglio ski resort in Italy threw together the world's top competitors on four wheels and on two.

Raikkonen, the ice man of Formula One, clinched his 2007 title in a gripping final round, while Stoner, the golden boy of MotoGP, dominated motorcycle racing's elite series with 10 victories in just his second season.

The pair's progress throughout the campaign was followed with reciprocal interest, nurturing a mutual respect both on and off the track.

"We have met a few times now and Casey is a really nice guy," enthused Raikkonen.

"Unfortunately I don't get to see all the MotoGP races, but I watch as many as I can and I really enjoy it, there is always a lot happening.

"I always support Casey because we're kind of from the same team.

"Winning the title last year was a great achievement and I think he can continue as world champion for many years."

Ferrari's Raikkonen pipped Lewis Hamilton to the F1 world title

Stoner, who expects to have fully recovered from a shoulder injury in time for pre-season testing in under a fortnight, said: "I've been able to spend some time with Kimi and he's a nice guy.

"He's very quiet, he keeps himself to himself but I like his attitude - he just goes out and does his job.

"He came from a long way behind to win the title last season and fought to the end.

"In racing the most important thing is to never give up and he showed that quality in a big way."

Stoner's New South Wales farm, where he has spent the last two months training in 30�C temperatures, lies almost 10,000 miles from Raikkonen's native Finland.

But the pair certainly have common ground when discussing their plans for 2008 - not least a shared attitude towards the supposed extra pressure of defending number one spot.

"It is better this way than any other," smiles Raikkonen.

"Hopefully, we can keep it but it's a long season and many things can happen.

"I think we have a good car so we'll see where we go but I'm looking forward to this year and hopefully we can have a good season."

Stoner added: "Personally, I feel 80% stronger as a rider than I was this time last year.

"We know it's going to be tough but I proved a lot of people wrong last season and I know I can improve. I think any racer who reckons they are the finished article is kidding themselves.

"You can learn more and become faster every time you go out on track and that will continue to be my personal target.

I'm not worried about Valentino (Rossi) being on Bridgestones Casey Stoner

"Ducati feel the same way and I'm sure we'll have an even better package."

The pair will also have hugely popular rivals as the main threat to their titles this season.

Lewis Hamilton has promised to come back even stronger in his second F1 season and Raikkonen is well aware of the threat of a backlash from McLaren following a wounding 2007.

"I know Lewis a little because when I was at McLaren he was driving in GP2 and I saw myself how good he was, so it was no surprise to me how well he did last season," he said.

"For sure it's going to be a hard battle - not just with him but also with McLaren. Hopefully we can beat them again."

Stoner will again be forced to contend with MotoGP's living legend Valentino Rossi, who has demanded a change to Bridgestone tyres after citing them as one of the reasons for Stoner's superiority last season.

It is a contentious issue with the occasionally spiky Stoner, who feels the Italian's remarks have discredited his own role in his title win.

"It seems Valentino was very complimentary about me at the start of the year, but as the races went by he started to talk more and more about the equipment I was riding or the tyres," he says.

"I guess this year he has one less thing to compare with me but I'm not worried about Valentino being on Bridgestones.

"I saw him test them at Jerez and I didn't see anything too special."