Ducati Marlboro’s Casey Stoner proved that he might be over his debilitating illness by soundly holding off and beating championship leader Valentino Rossi for the victory at the scenic Phillip Island circuit in Australia. Rossi’s quest for his ninth World Championship was helped greatly by the first turn crash of his chief rival for the title this year, Fiat Yamaha teammate Jorge Lorenzo. Lorenzo collided with Stoner’s teammate Nicky Hayden when the Spaniard entered turn one a little too fast, causing him to crash and Hayden to run off the track; Hayden re-entered the race and finished 15th. Lorenzo’s fall now gives Rossi the opportunity to clinch the world championship in the next race at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia next weekend. Repsol Honda’s Dani Pedrosa finished a lonely third—22 seconds behind the torrid pace set by Stoner and Rossi—after running at the front for half a lap before Stoner forced his way back past. San Carlo Honda Gresini’s Alex De Angelis showed that his top placing in the morning warmup was no fluke by finishing fourth, while Monster Tech 3 Yamaha’s Colin Edwards flubbed his second row start and was forced to work his way up to fifth at the finish, after sitting in ninth place on the first lap.
Race results:
1. Casey Stoner (AUS) Ducati
2. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Yamaha
3. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Honda
4. Alex De Angelis (RSM) Honda
5. Colin Edwards (USA) Yamaha
6. Andrea Dovisioso (ITA) Honda
7. Marco Melandri (ITA) Kawasaki
8. Randy De Puniet (FRA) Honda
9. Mika Kallio (FIN) Ducati
10. Toni Elias (SPA) Honda