Stoner clinches championship
| > | Stoner: Didn’t think I’d be world champ today |
Casey Stoner has become Australia’s third world champion in 500cc/MotoGP racing, after finishing sixth at the Japanese Moto GP.
Stoner, starting the race 76 championship points ahead of Valentino Rossi, merely needed to finish ahead of the five time champion to ensure the title. A task easier said than done once Stoner qualified ninth, Rossi second.
Stoner started the race brilliantly, quickly snaking through the field to sit second. Rossi drifted back at the start but was on Stoner’s back wheel soon enough. The pair had a brief battle, before wet weather intervened, forcing all riders back to the pits to change bikes.
The new Yamaha didn’t agree with Rossi, who dropped out of contention quickly, meaning Stoner just needed to stay upright. The Australian showed no desire to take any risks, finishing sixth, well behind Ducati teammate Loris Capirossi.
“Unreal,” was the simple summation of Casey’s dad Colin.
“Unbelievably dramatic race. A hard one to watch. He used his head.”
Stoner joins Wayne Gardner and Mick Doohan as Australian champions in the top flight of motor cycling.
The victory means Stoner will travel to his home race at Phillip Island in three weeks without the pressures of the championship hanging over his head.
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