Home win for masterful Stoner

Eurosport - Wed, 08 Oct 12:16:00 2008

Australia's Casey Stoner overcame a persistent wrist injury and the disappointment of relinquishing his world title last week to clinch his home MotoGP at Phillip Island for the second successive year.

2008 Australian GP Casey Stoner - 0

The 2007 world champion beat Valentino Rossi by more than six seconds to the delight of the 50,541-strong home crowd, several thousand of whom stormed across the track at the conclusion of the race. American Nicky Hayden finished third.

Rossi, who had treatment on his neck after falling during qualifying on Saturday, wrapped up his fifth world MotoGP world title, and sixth premier-class title overall, in Japan last week.

"It wasn't really a disappointment because I lost the championship when I had those two crashes, and Valentino rode really well," the 22-year-old Stoner said.

"Before the championship last year we didn't expect even to be in the top three and to be world champion last year and at the moment we're running second this year is something you have to be proud of, no matter what.

"If we have the opportunity to fight for it again next year then great but we're very happy on [winning] the home GP." Stoner, who will have surgery at the end of the season to fix a broken bone in his wrist, blasted away from pole on his Ducati and led for all 27 laps of the 4.45-km track in sunny conditions.

Rossi started on the fourth row in 12th and moved through the field before he caught Hayden on the final lap. He has finished outside the top-three just twice in 16 races this season.

Britain's James Toseland equalled his best result in MotoGP, finishing sixth for the sixth time this season.

Toseland, who was celebrating his 28th birthday, said he was pleased with the result despite running in fourth for much of the race.

In an eventful outing, Toseland overtook Rossi and then had to deny over-aggressive riding when passing Honda's Andrea Dovizioso on the final lap.

"I knew fourth was up for grabs so I tried to pass Andrea at Honda hairpin on the last lap. We ran a bit wide and Andrea seemed a bit upset but I passed him without touching him. I am sorry if he is upset, but he is upset for no reason.

"I was fighting for the best result of my MotoGP career so I had to try something. Shinya came by as I ran wide but I passed him back at Siberia, only for him to come right back underneath me because I ran a bit wide again.

"I am just happy with the way I rode. I rode hard and I am really pleased that on my birthday I put a good show on and I could enjoy it. I was riding my heart out and when I have a ride like that and I pass Valentino it encourages me even more."

Earlier, France's Mike di Meglio won the 125cc world title with a dominant victory ahead of Stefan Bradl of Germany. Hungary's 2007 world champion Gabor Talmacsi finished third.

Italy's Marco Simoncelli clinched the 250 race and extended his world championship lead to 37 points after an intriguing battle with closest rival Alvaro Bautista of Spain. Finland's Mika Kallio finished third.

Reuters

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  1. Misleading title from Eurosport I feel.

    'Masterful Stoner'? What on earth did an Antipodean beer swiller write the article?

    Rossi is the Master - 12th to 2nd.
    Stoner did nothing special other than not fall off.

    Only Rossi can come from behind and (almost) win the race.

    The greatest of all time is Rossi, unquestionable and an awesome sight to behold.

    From bR0Ken_H3arT, on Sun 5 Oct 8:26PM

  2. I am an absolute Rossi fan, not always though, always thought he had the best bikes Aprilia 1998 one non Aprilia win that year. The Honda was always the best bike 2000,1,2&3 i was always routing for Biaggi. But for Rossi to switch to Yamaha in 2004 when they only had a 3rd place in 2003 was brave. To make it win was great, you have gotta respect that, it changed my mind to Rossi, he stopped his clowning around playing games with Biaggi and became hard working, taking his team had a lot to do with it, but he had to ride it. Changing bikes is something the boring Doohan didn't do. Have been a fan of Casey Stoner in the past 125, 250, even LCR Honda 990, even meet him in my local pub with Chaz Davies. But Stoner's moaning and kicking out at people puts you off. His display after the Laguna Seca race took his popularity to an all time low. He has clearly learned his lesson, and has changed, this is easy to see, my respect for him as a person is rising. At the end of the day, Rossi's title and race wins would mean nothing without Stoner, as he can beat Pedrosa 9 times out of 10 easily, Rossi had to show his very very best to deliver, a great 2008 season.
    Nicky Hayden is no real race winner like Rossi and Stoner but who can realy say they don't like him, he is great, it is good to see him out qualify and beat pedrosa even though he is not on the best tires and Honda are not supporting him. They even made him test in races that new clutch while trying to win that 2006 title.

    From davidharmon1973, on Sun 5 Oct 8:24PM

  3. Doohan won his first title when Gardner, Rainey, Lawson, Mamola had retired

    From arshad_iceman2, on Sun 5 Oct 6:51PM

  4. Dont think it is fair to say that Stoner can only win from the front, thats Pedrosa territory ! Stoner is (currently) the one person who can mix it up with Rossi on a regular basis. As for the Ducati being the fastest bike out there, yes maybe in a straight line but there are corners on a race track and the duke looks a handfull - if it is so fast why havent we been treated to Ducati's locking out the podium for the last 2 years? Stoner has blown Capirossi, Melandri and Barros (all past GP winners) out of the water - people should give him the credit he deserves.
    Rossi the best of all time ? I think not. He's a brilliant rider but who has he had to compete against during this time - Gibernau, Biaggi, Hayden, Pedrosa, Stoner - all good riders but not all time greats. Biaggi caused Rossi alot more trouble than he did for Doohan who had to compete with the likes of Rainey, Schwantz, Gardner and Lawson who could boast 9 world titles between them.
    Oh and i am a Rossi fan, i just look at things a bit more fairly than some :-)

    From David, on Sun 5 Oct 4:44PM

  5. Can anyone tell me where we are going to see all our motogp races next year? O and well done to rossi again for finishing where he did from 12th on the grid, just imagine where he would have been from front row!!

    From d.richardson513@..., on Sun 5 Oct 4:02PM

  6. It is not Nicky Hayden that can't run the race pace, it is the tyres that can't stand what he hands out. Trouble is i do not know the answer. However next year with a single tyre make and the same equipment as Casey Stoner, It might, just might. be closer.

    From Nxxx, on Sun 5 Oct 12:58PM

  7. well done casey

    From kevingolding@..., on Sun 5 Oct 12:31PM

  8. yep sure is the man the master even, thats rossi of course no one else comes near him

    From GRAHAM C, on Sun 5 Oct 12:27PM

  9. Congratulations Casey Stoner on your home GP win.Unfortunately your still not as good as The Doctor.The next MotoGP great after The Doctor is Jorge Lorenzo.Rossi & Lorenzo are the best.

    From Zero, on Sun 5 Oct 11:38AM

  10. having seen hailwood surties agostini read redman sarinen roberts sheen doohan and all the other top riders over the past 50 years rossi tops the list as the greatest rider ever.i once shared my packed lunch with a distraught hailwood after his chain stretched in the 1965 junior tt at glen helen.

    From s, on Sun 5 Oct 11:36AM

  11. to claire,STONER IS THE"MAN"

    From MARTIN, on Sun 5 Oct 11:26AM

  12. I admired Toseland's fight he deserved a better result than 6th. Rossi only gets beat by Stoner when Stoner makes a break from pole. Its a strategy that works for the Aussie but it is so MIND NUMBINGLY BORING!!!!!! Who else would rather see a scrap for the lead instead of 1 man dissappearing into the distance? Im so glad Rossi caught onto Stoner's boring tactics early this season........As for Mr Hayden GOOD RESULT and GREAT ATTITUDE.

    From Robert H, on Sun 5 Oct 11:11AM

  13. you said it all lyndsay....Rossi is the man

    From Claire W, on Sun 5 Oct 10:56AM

  14. rossi is the man,. stoner cant compete even with his faster ducati, if you reveresed the bikes and gave rossi the ducati, you wouldnt even see him let alone catch him.

    From LYNDSAY, on Sun 5 Oct 10:42AM

  15. v. rossi did well to come back from 12th on pole to make 2nd........

    From ., on Sun 5 Oct 10:41AM

  16. Hayden proves yet again that he can't run the race pace.

    From Michael J, on Sun 5 Oct 10:04AM
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