Ducati’s Casey Stoner has won his second race on the bounce, in front of his home crowd and for the 4th consecutive time at Phillip Island. The Australian won in emphatic style, starting from pole position and storming away to take the flag nine seconds ahead of newly crowned world champion Jorge Lorenzo.
Valentino Rossi grabbed a well fought podium leaving Nicky Hayden disappointed in 4th after a race long battle with the Italian. With three laps to go Hayden squeaked past the outgoing world champ, but the old master was not going down without a fight and on the final lap, Rossi put in an identical move to claim back the final spot on the podium by just 0.038s.
Behind the scrap for third Monster Yamaha Tech3 rider Ben Spies became rookie of the year after another top five finish, his 8th this season with another rookie just behind, as San Carlo Gresini Honda’s Marco Simoncelli gained another strong finish in sixth.
Colin Edwards came home in seventh on his Monster Yamaha Tech3 with Aleix Espargaro just behind in an unusually high finish for the Pramac Ducati squad in eighth. Marco Melandri crossed the line in ninth on the second San Carlo Gresni Honda machine with Randy De Puniet closing out the top 10.
With a depleted field due to many riders out injured; Dani Pedrosa managed to qualify but chose not to race after aggravating his injury to his collarbone. Loris Capirossi sat out injured after sustaining a groin injury in a qualifying crash. The only retiree was a very disappointed Andrea Dovizioso who was forced to retire early when his Repsol Honda developed technical issues.
With another win under his belt Stoner moves above Rossi to 3rd in the championship, but with Lorenzo and Rossi scoring high, FIAT Yamaha have wrapped up the Constructors Championship with 2 races remaining in the season.
