Ducati News Today

Stoner Takes the Win for the Hat Trick

Casey Stoner took the win for the 3rd time in succession at Australia’s, Phillip Island circuit during the 15th round of the MotoGP Championship. Stoner led almost flag to flag after overtaking fast starter Dani Pedrosa on the first lap. Valentino Rossi took 2nd after championship rival and team-mate Jorge Lorenzo crashed out on the first corner of the race dashing his championship hopes. Pedrosa took a distant third place.

Dani Pedrosa did his normal blast off the line as the lights turned but the action was all behind him. Jorge Lorenzo, starting from the second row of the grid and desperate to start with Stoner and Rossi, touched Nicky Hayden’s Ducati pushing Hayden off into the gravel at the very first turn. It was worse for Lorenzo who chose to flick his Yamaha into the very fast first turn too fast and crashed, luckily escaping serious injury.

Meanwhile Casey Stoner wasted no time passing Pedrosa, his bike resplendent in special white livery (not that unlike Nicky Hayden’s bike at Indianapolis). Valentino Rossi quickly followed suit and the two pulled away gapping Pedrosa by some 23 seconds at the flag. Rossi never fell far behind but rarely looked like putting a move on Stoner, the Australian’s pace and thoughts of the championship clearly at play.

Alex de Angelis finished strongly in 4th helping his fading hopes of remaining in MotoGP next year from the steady and almost now expected 5th of Colin Edwards. Mika Kallio had been as high as 6th but faded to 9th and the unlucky Nicky Hayden ultimately rejoined the race and finished 15th and last points scorer a lap down. Nicolo Canepa didn’t start the race following his practice crash earlier in the weekend that required a skin graft.

James Toseland had another ride through penalty for jumping the start (this time he actually came in to serve it rather than be black flagged as in Laguna Seca) and Loris Capirossi was the first victim of the 5 engine limit rule, starting from the back of the grid (and forfeiting 10 points in the manufacturers championship) because the team had fitted a fresh and 6th engine to his bike.

Casey Stoner 1st:- “Physically, I was able to do the same from start to finish, and I was just really happy with the way everything was working. Especially with my body; every lap I kept going past the point where I used to just hit my wall. It made me smile, and I enjoyed each lap after that. It’s very nice to be back here, and I thank Marlboro for allowing me to use this livery and to the team and everybody for supporting me. To do three from three is a very nice way to end the year for me.”

link: MotoGP.com

Valentino Rossi 2nd:- “I read on my board that Lorenzo was out, so I tried for the victory. Casey set a good pace, but my bike setting was good so I tried to follow him at 100%, but also had to remember not to make any mistakes for the championship after Lorenzo’s crash. It was a great battle. I tried, at one part of the race it was possible to attack, but at the end it was too risky and anyway Casey had a great race.”

link: MotoGP.com

Jorge Lorenzo DNF:- “I made a good start but I was very close to Nicky and didn’t expect him to brake so quickly, so I touched Nicky and I couldn’t stay on the bike,” explained Lorenzo. “My front brake broke and I couldn’t brake on the corner. I had two options; to go straight or try to take the corner, I tried to take the corner but I didn’t have a brake and the rear tyre didn’t stay so I crashed. I have a little damage on my nose and finger, but it could be worse.”

link: MotoGP.com

Australian MotoGP Results
1. Casey Stoner (AUS) Ducati Marlboro Team 40’56.651
2. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Fiat Yamaha Team + 1.935
3. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Repsol Honda + 22.618
4. Alex De Angelis (RSM) San Carlo Honda Gresini + 32.702
5. Colin Edwards (USA) Monster Yamaha Tech 3 + 35.885
6. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) Repsol Honda + 38.482
7. Marco Melandri (ITA) Hayate Racing Team + 44.461
8. Randy De Puniet (FRA) LCR Honda MotoGP + 44.941
9. Mika Kallio (FIN) Ducati Marlboro Team + 54.345
10. Toni Elias (SPA) San Carlo Honda Gresini + 1’01.205
11. Chris Vermeulen (AUS) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP + 1’05.417
12. Loris Capirossi (ITA) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP + 1’05.950
13. Gabor Talmacsi (HUN) Scot Racing Team MotoGP + 1’17.951
14. James Toseland (GBR) Monster Yamaha Tech 3 + 1’17.985
15. Nicky Hayden (USA) Ducati Marlboro Team 1 Lap
DNF Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) Fiat Yamaha Team 27 Laps

Rossi now has a 38 point lead over Lorenzo for the 2009 title and Stoner has moved ahead of Pedrosa for third. Even if Lorenzo wins next time out at Malaysia, Rossi need only finish 4th to be crowned MotoGP World Champion. The next race is at Sepang, Malaysia on October 25th.

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Thanks to Richard Morrison for the photograph of the Ducati pit

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