Racing: Stoner outlasts Rossi in a classic

Casey Stoner produced one of the most stunning performances of his career to beat world champion Valentino Rossi and take his third straight victory in his home race at the 2009 Iveco Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix.

Riding a specially liveried white Ducati that featured the Australian flag in honour of his 24th birthday last Friday, Stoner led almost every lap of the 27-lap race - but that did not tell the true story of the race-long fight between the two titans of the modern MotoGP scene.

Though Honda's Dani Pedrosa claimed the hole-shot Stoner swept into the lead on lap two, fought off the little Spaniard's next attack and had only championship leader Rossi to worry about from then on.

Rossi was buoyed by a first-corner accident that took his nearest rival, Yamaha teammate Jorge Lorenzo, out of the race and almost certainly out of the title fight. Lorenzo had a coming-together with Nicky Hayden, pushed the American's Ducati off on to a gravel trap, and then fell before he could regain control.

Though Hayden rejoined he was 15th and last of the classified finishers.

The gap between Stoner and Rossi see-sawed from 0.7 to one second to as little as 0.091secs until the Australian finally took control with a three-lap burst from laps 19-21 that brought victory within his grasp.

"To do three from three here is a very nice way to end the year for me," said Stoner, who leap-frogged Pedrosa into third place in the title standings despite his three-race absence.

"My bike was working pretty well, from start to finish I was happy with the way everything was working, especially my body - it made me smile each lap."

Pedrosa finished third - but the gap of over 20 seconds between him and Rossi told the full story of the two-man dominance of the race.

Stoner's victory cappeed off a sensational weekend for Australian motorsport, with Jason Crump claiming the world speedway title and Mark Webber winning his second F1 race in Brazil. Webber even acknowledged his countrymen in his post-race press conference.

Australia's Chris Vermeulen, in his final grand prix appearance in front of his home fans before moving to the superbike stage again, finished 11th after a late-race battle with Suzuki team-mate Loris Capirossi - the Italian having been sent to the back of the starting grid for an infringement of the engine rules before the race began.

Rossi now has a 38pt advantage over Lorenzo, who left the circuit medical centre with a bandaged nose and hand, with only two races to come in Malaysia and Spain.

"We had great enjoyment, with a lot of slides," beamed Rossi. "At one part of the race it was possible to attack," said the World Champion, "but at the end it was too risky. These 20 points are very important for my Championship."

MotoGP results
1. Casey STONER (Ducati Marlboro Team) 40:56.651
2. Valentino ROSSI (Fiat Yamaha Team) 40:58.586
3. Dani PEDROSA (Repsol Honda Team) 41:19.269
4. Alex DE ANGELIS (San Carlo Honda Gresini) 41:29.353
5. Colin EDWARDS (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) 41:32.536
6. Andrea DOVIZIOSO (Repsol Honda Team) 41:35.133
7. Marco MELANDRI (Hayate Racing Team) 41:41.112
8. Randy DE PUNIET (LCR Honda MotoGP) 41:41.592
9. Mika KALLIO (Pramac Racing) 41:50.996
10. Toni ELIAS (San Carlo Honda Gresini) 41:57.856
11. Chris VERMEULEN (Rizla Suzuki MotoGP) 42:02.068
12. Loris CAPIROSSI (Rizla Suzuki MotoGP) 42:02.601
13. Gabor TALMACSI (Scot Racing Team MotoGP) 42:14.602
14. James TOSELAND (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) 42:14.636
15. Nicky HAYDEN (Ducati Marlboro Team) 41:27.127

Not finished 1st lap
99. Jorge LORENZO (Fiat Yamaha Team) Yamaha

What they said
Casey Stoner (Ducati), champion
On the race and his form since coming back from a three-race layoff:
"It's been a really tough (season) for us. The start of the season, we were competitive enough to fight for the championship. By the time we got halfway through, we were just collecting points - we weren't really even fighting for anything. That's why we took that decision to take time off, and this is the result of it. Without taking that time off, we wouldn't be anywhere near that podium today. Things would have been too difficult for me, and physically I wouldn't have been able to last the race. It's been fantastic to come back and get a second in Portugal, and almost have enough pace to win it, and to have enough pace to win here."

On how he felt physically during the race:
"Basically every time I went on the brakes into (Turn 10) or (Turn 4), I kept expecting my arms to start buckling and for things to start getting real hard. But it just never came. Five races doesn't sound like a long time, but when you have the same thing week after week and you're not able to fix it, it was very difficult. I was definitely a little more exhausted in Portugal, because the weather was hotter and we hadn't had any physical training. I did a little bit (of training) in the last week before this race to get my fitness up, and we were able to stay consistent throughout."

On looking forward to next year:
"It's not that we gave up on the (2009) championship, but after we took those three races off - even before - we were realistic about it. We decided to try to take the time off and fix (the health problems) for next year. This is what these four races are for - to get the bike set up in the right direction for next year and give it a real shot."

On the performance of the Ducati:
"We had a really good bike under brakes, and the bike wasn't too difficult to ride today. Because the bike was working so well under brakes and into corners, we weren't having to push too hard. In other races, when the bike's not working well, you push past the limit, and that's when things get really difficult."

Valentino Rossi (Yamaha), second place
On earning 20 points on a day when main title rival Jorge Lorenzo failed to finish:
"If I make a mistake today after the crash of my teammate, it's a big problem. These 20 points are like gold for us, and now we have an important advantage on the championship.

Riding the MotoGP (bike) here in Phillip Island is always a great pleasure, as we did some great slides on the left side. I try to stay with (Stoner), and I put a lot of effort but always trying not to make any mistakes. (With) three laps to go, I was very close, but there was no way for the victory."

On whether he knew Lorenzo had crashed out:
"Before the race, I speak with (Yamaha crew chief) Jerry (Burgess) and (ask) to say something to me if he makes a mistake. They put 'Lorenzo out' on the (pit) board. From that moment, I knew in my mind there were two ways - try to win, but try to keep the second place for the championship.

Dani Pedrosa (Honda), third place
On his fast start and leading for the first lap:
"It is a shame that they don't give points for the hole-shot (laughs)."

On his race:
"It is (frustrating), because the last three races I am on the podium, but always the same way. It is not what I really like, but I pushed myself to the maximum, and this was it. (Stoner and Rossi) were much quicker, and I couldn't follow. After my crash yesterday (in qualifying), it is good to be on the podium, but (third place is) not what I like to do every race."

Lorenzo: "Title was a long shot anyway"
Yamaha's Jorge Lorenzo has conceded the MotoGP title to team-mate Valentino Rossi after a disastrous 2009 Iveco Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, which ended in the gravel at Turn 1 after the Spaniard ran into the back of American Nicky Hayden's Ducati.

Lorenzo, who paid a visit to the circuit Medical Centre after his heavy fall, is now 38 points behind Rossi with a maximum of 50 points available from the remaining two races in Malaysia and Valencia, and says he now has no chance of securing his maiden MotoGP crown in his second season in the premier class.

"The title was a long shot anyway, and now I just want to look forward to the last two races," Lorenzo said.
"I'm a little bit sad for this crash, not for the championship, but for my mistake. It was totally my fault. I want to say sorry to Nicky because I ruined his race today. I made a bit of damage to my nose and my finger, but it could have been a lot worse."

Chris Vermeulen (Suzuki, 11th):
"It was a really tough race, and about the only good thing was that I beat my team-mate. The Suzuki is obviously not working as well as we want it to, and that obviously hasn't helped me go out on a high in MotoGP at Phillip Island. I would have loved to have been on the podium, but I know I gave it 100 percent. I am looking forward to returning to Phillip Island next February when I join the world superbike title, and I hope that outing will be a lot more successful."

And more news
Stoner milestone
This victory is the 19th of Casey Stoner's MotoGP career - which carries the 24-year-old Ducati ace past the career tally of Aussie legend Wayne Gardner, who was on track here at Phillip Island this weekend. Gardner scored 18 Grand Prix wins of his own in the premier class, but both men are still a long way adrift of five-time World Champion Mick Doohan, who claimed no fewer than 54 wins in the 500cc class.

Italy 200, the rest nowhere…
Marco Simoncelli's victory in the 250cc race at Phillip Island was doubly significant. It was the last quarter-litre World Championship race Australian fans will see as the category is being replaced in 2010 by the new 600cc Moto2 class. Not only that, but Simoncelli's was also the 200th victory by an Italian rider in the class - and no other nation has made it into three figures.

And who was fifth?
Colin Edwards … the No.5 bike and the fifth-place specialist, of course! "I'm tired of finishing fifth," said the Texan, "so I gave it everything I had. But the start cost me fourth and some precious points." He's been fifth three times in the last … five races.