October 18, 2009

Casey Stoner delivered a stirring win and a stern rebuke to his critics when he romped to his third straight Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix victory.

The 24-year-old Ducati wizard held off world champion Valentino Rossi, who hounded him throughout the race, to cross the line 1.9 seconds ahead of the Italian with Honda's Dani Pedrosa a distant third.

Stoner continued his remarkable comeback from a mystery illness which prompted a 10-week break from the series.

He returned two weeks ago in Portugal and finished second to the surprise of his rivals.

But Sunday's victory, where he led virtually from the drop of the flag, was one of his sweetest under the circumstances.

Throughout his layoff the Australian had had to put up with rumours he was retiring, was sick of racing, was in dispute with his team - but he produced the perfect answer today.

"At the start of the season we were competitive enough to fight for the championship but by the time we got halfway through we were just collecting points, we weren't fighting for anything," Stoner said.

"That's why we decided to take that decision to take time off - and this is the result of it.

"I think without taking that time off we wouldn't be anywhere near the podium step today, things would have been too difficult for me and, physically, definitely I wouldn't have been able to last the race.

"It's just been fantastic to come back and get a second in Portugal and (have) almost enough pace to win it and here have the pace to win ... I can't ask for more.

"We definitely made the right decision to take that time off and find our way."

Stoner said he remained wary after his weakening illness, waiting for his "arms to start buckling" every time he went under brakes "but it just never came".

"I was definitely a little bit more exhausted in Portugal - of course the weather was a little hotter and we hadn't done any physical training," he said.

"We've done a little bit this last week just to get myself back up there a little bit and there were no problems through the race."

In fact, Stoner said he could have stepped up the pace and was able to pull away from Rossi every time the Yamaha rider closed.

"I thought the track conditions were good enough to go a little bit faster than what we were," Stoner said.

"We were struggling with rear-end grip - I think everybody was to a certain point - but that's something we struggle with in general with our bike at the moment.

"We tried to go every which way with our settings ... but we just can't get grip out of the corners at most of the circuits we go to.

"When we solve that I think things will come along a lot better and it will work a lot more smoothly."

Stoner's win was his third this year, after victories in the season-opener in Qatar and in Italy, and it moved him to third place in the world championship, despite missing three rounds.

It was also his 19th MotoGP victory, moving him one spot ahead of Australia's first world champion, Wayne Gardner.


Australian MotoGP Results
1. Casey Stoner (AUS) Ducati 40 minutes 56.651 seconds
2. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Yamaha at 1.935
3. Dani Pedrosa (ESP) Honda 22.618
4. Alex de Angelis (RSM) Honda 32.702
5. Colin Edwards (USA) Yamaha 35.885
6. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) Honda 38.482
7. Marco Melandri (ITA) Kawasaki 44.461
8. Randy de Puniet (FRA) Honda 44.941
9. Mika Kallio (FIN) Ducati 54.345
10. Toni Elias (ESP) Honda 1:01.205
11. Chris Vermeulen (AUS) Suzuki 1:05.417
12. Loris Capirossi (ITA) Suzuki 1:05.950
13. Gabor Talmacsi (HUN) Honda 1:17.951
14. James Toseland (GBR) Yamaha 1:17.985
15. Nicky Hayden (USA) Ducati 1 Lap
Failed to finish: Jorge Lorenzo (ESP) Yamaha 1st lap

World Championship Standings
1. Valentino Rossi (ITA/Yamaha) 270pts
2. Jorge Lorenzo (ESP/Yamaha) 232
3. Casey Stoner (AUS/Ducati) 195
4. Dani Pedrosa (ESP/Honda) 189
5. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA/Honda) 152
6. Colin Edwards (USA/Yamaha) 145
7. Alex de Angelis (RSM/Honda) 101
8. Randy de Puniet (FRA/Honda) 101
9. Loris Capirossi (ITA/Suzuki) 101
10. Marco Melandri (ITA/Kawasaki) 100