By Steve Parrish BBC motorbikes commentator

Facing an adversary as mentally teak tough as Valentino Rossi must be very hard Steve Parrish

Earlier this week I was at the Shell Research Centre with MotoGP Championship leader Casey Stoner and it was fascinating to spend some time with him ahead of the British Grand Prix.

We had a go at blending the fuel which he is going to put in his bike. It probably won't be very good as, to be honest, we didn't really know what we were doing!

But the 21-year-old, from Kurri Kurri in New South Wales, really is a lovely lad. Despite the fact that the MotoGP world has suddenly fallen at his feet, he is very level-headed about everything.

There is no doubt leading the championship by 14 points has blown his mind a little bit but the young Aussie is handling it brilliantly.

Facing an adversary as mentally tough as Valentino Rossi must be very hard.

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The five-time world champ has tried in the past to screw with people's heads in a bid to unsettle them, but Stoner seems to be well ahead of all that. In fact, in terms of psychology Stoner has got the upper hand after his stunning win in Catalunya last time out.

Rossi's confidence must have taken a bit of knock after he eventually finished second after an amazing race. He threw all his armour at it, yet Stoner still came out on top.

A couple of the laps during that race were as good as you are ever likely to see in motor racing.

It was very impressive and, for me, that was the race in which he proved beyond all doubt that he is a proper threat to Rossi.

He told me that it was the first time he really got stuck in and thought, 'a podium would be nice, but I want to win this one.'

And win is what he did.

The only thing missing for the public on Sunday is the absence of a British rider Steve Parrish

Donington is another track that Rossi has a stunning record at, with seven career victories to his name at the circuit.

He calls it his second home, but Stoner pointed out to me that everywhere seems to be Rossi's second home and he thinks he says it to try and unsettle the other riders.

What isn't in doubt is the popularity the charismatic Italian will enjoy from the British crowd and that will be a big boost for him.

The Leicestershire track generally produces some good races. What I also love about it is how family and spectator friendly it is and there are some great vantage points to watch the action.

This is in marked contrast to somewhere like Silverstone which seems very wide open, expansive and a little clinical. That takes away a lot of its atmosphere, which is something Donington certainly doesn't lack.

In fact, the only thing missing for the public on Sunday is a British rider.

Northern Ireland's Jonathan Rea was due to be a wild card entry for Team Roberts, but instead the British Superbikes rider will concentrate on the Suzuka eight-hour race in Japan.

1. Rossi2. Hopkins 3. Stoner