Stoner pumped for Phillip Island

MotoGP World Champion and Aussie favourite Casey Stoner is already looking forward to his last home race at the 2012 AirAsia Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix this October.

Speaking to the Australian Grand Prix ‘Keeping Track’ podcast, Stoner admitted that he has his eyes on a sixth straight Island triumph on a circuit that he loves.

The 26-year-old Honda rider, who has won four races to sit third in this year’s World Championship, has won at Phillip Island for the last five years and has led 134 of the 135 laps at the spectacular coastal circuit over that time.

“It’s definitely one I look forward to every single season – we have a long way to go before then, (but) when we get a bit closer to it, we’ll start to get excited,” he said.  “The high-speed corners with the rear (tyre) wanting to step out … some other riders don’t tend to enjoy that as much as I do. I relish it – it’s why I do this sport and why I love it. It’s worked well for me in these last years.”

Stoner secured his second world title at home last year, winning the race on his 26th birthday in what he describes as one of the most special days of his career.

“We were confident we were going to have that championship no matter what because we only had a couple of rounds to go and we had momentum with us, but it didn’t look like we were going to be able to take it at that race,” he said.  “It was fantastic to be able to do it at home. On my birthday, five (wins) in a row … it was just an amazing thing.”

In an expansive interview with ‘Keeping Track’, Stoner spoke about one of the biggest accidents of his career at Assen earlier this season, his shock retirement announcement back in May, and his respect for championship rival Jorge Lorenzo.

To listen to the podcast, click here.