The MotoGP title race may be over but that didn't stop Casey Stoner from driving his usual flat-out style as he took his ninth win of the season.
There is no better place to celebrate a championship than in front of the home crowd. That is exactly what the newly crowned MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner did when he took his ninth victory of the season in Philip Island starting from third on the grid. It has been almost a decade since an Australian became a Grand Prix Motorcycle Racing World Champion (last title won by Mick Doohan in 1998). The fans would be more than happy to witness a local hero’s homecoming. There is no question that Casey Stoner is a welcome addition to other Australian Motorcycle greats such as Mick Doohan and Wayne Gardner.
Second position was claimed by Stoner’s veteran teammate Loris Capirossi. Although Capirossi is bound to join Suzuki next season, the Italian is determined to finish his stint with Ducati on a high note. With his second consecutive podium finish, Capirossi might just be able to fulfill his promise.
Valentino Rossi took the final podium position for Fiat Yamaha. Rossi looked to be competitive during the race weekend and was expected to battle for victory. But the Italian suffered tire deterioration during the final stages of the race and hence was forced to nurse his machinery.
Pole sitter Dani Pedrosa will be disappointed to finish in fourth place after looking dominant during Saturday Qualifying. His teammate Nicky Hayden also suffered a bitter blow. After having an excellent start to claim third position, the 2006 World Champion was forced to retire from the race in lap thirteen.
Pramac d’Antin’s Alex Barros finished fifth narrowly beating Kawasaki’s Randy de Puniet in sixth and Rizla Suzuki’s John Hopkins in seventh.
Hopkin’s teammate Chris Vermeulen crossed the line in eighth place. Fiat Yamaha’s Colin Edwards and Honda Gresini’s Marco Melandri rounded up the top ten finishing ninth and tenth respectively.
It is truly an exciting time for Australian fans. Casey Stoner’s dominance this season with his 9 wins and 12 podium finishes may just be a prelude of another wave of Australian rule in the championship standings. With the Ducati working extremely well with its Bridgestone tires, it is very possible for Stoner to have a similar impact that his compatriot Mick Doohan had during the 90s.
It is up to Stoner’s main rivals to prove otherwise. Rossi, Pedrosa and Hayden however face an uphill battle if they want to challenge the new champion. These riders and their teams face the daunting task of finding a consistently competitive package with their Michelin tires. For these riders, the last two races are still important for collecting more information that will be used for development next season.
