Casey Stoner celebrated winning the World MotoGP championship with a dominant performance in front of his home fans to claim the Australian round at Phillip Island on Sunday.
The 21-year-old, who clinched the title in the previous round in Japan, was claiming his ninth victory of the season and was never headed after taking the lead from third on the grid.
He eventually finished ahead of his Ducati team-mate Loris Capirossi with five-time world champion Valentino Rossi of Italy in third place. CNN
The 21-year-old started third on the grid but surged into the lead to take his ninth victory of the season.
The Australian finished ahead of his Ducati team-mate Loris Capirossi with Yamaha’s Valentino Rossi in third.
Stoner, who won his first world title in Japan, became the first home winner in Australia since Mick Doohan in 1998.
“To get the championship before this round I think was perfect for me, ” said Stoner. “I could really enjoy this race. BBC
In many ways it was as big a weight off his slight shoulders as winning the world title.
He furiously denies it but Casey Stoner came to his home motorcycle grand prix carrying the expectations of a nation.
The hopes were ever-present even though Stoner insisted he came to the island without pressure, having won the world championship in Japan last month.
He said he could now afford to “have fun” in the race but on the other hand said it was an event he had tried without success to win for years. TheWest.com
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