DOHA (AFP) - World champion Casey Stoner begins the defence of his world motorcycling crown on Sunday under the desert lights of Qatar with a warning to his rivals that he has no intention of surrendering his title.

The Australian Ducati rider insists that he is almost recovered from the shoulder surgery he needed after a fall in testing in Jerez and has no fears over racing in the dark, the first time a grand prix has been held at night in the 60-year history of the championship.

"It will be different but I don't think it changes the job for the rider especially because we have already had two days of tests to get used to the track conditions and the lights," said Stoner.

"Temperature will be an important factor though especially as far as the tyres are concerned because at 11 o'clock when we start qualifying, and the race, it is really cold."

Sunday's race at the Losail circuit will be swamped by 3,600 light fixtures generating 5.4 million watts of power - enough light to cover an area equivalent to 70 football pitches.

The bulbs are fixed on 1000 poles all linked together by almost 500 kilometres of wire and supported by 300,000 kilos of concrete.

"After the last test I am quite relaxed," said Valentino Rossi, who won five MotoGP titles in a row until 2006.

"I think they have done an excellent job with the lights and it's really true that you can ride just the same as you can by day. The biggest problem is of course the temperature, because it's very cold by night and this makes our work, especially with the tyres, much harder."

For Yamaha rider Rossi the 2008 campaign starts in a place where he has already celebrated victory on two previous occasions.

A repeat on Sunday would be a good omen for the Italian, who has won the opening race on each of the five occasions he has won the title.

A top three finish would make him the first rider ever to reach 100 premier-class podiums.

Dani Pedrosa, the runner-up in 2007, has, like Stoner, had injury worries ahead of the new season.

He needed surgery on his hand after crashing in testing at Sepang and struggled in tests here last week.

"Because of the injury I have not done much work at the tracks," said the Honda rider.

"It's not 100-percent yet but I feel a little better every week. The night race should be interesting.

"There are a few shadows but it's not too bad."