Racetrack Insider - News and Views of the Motorsports Industry from Insiders Drew Patey and Buddy Judy

Stoner Number One at Phillips Island

Casey Stoner held off Valentino Rossi to win his home MotoGP grand prix at Phillip Island in Australia for the third consecutive year, but second was enough for Rossi to stretch his championship lead to 38 points after Jorge Lorenzo crashed out. Lorenzo made the highlight films when he tagged the rear of Nicky Hayden's bike at the start and both riders went off. Hayden was able to continue while Lorenzo saw his hopes for the title slip away in the distance. Dani Pedrosa jumped into the lead at the start, but Stoner and Rossi were close behind and overtook Pedrosa on lap two. The two ran last and had their own race for the first 20 laps, with Stoner inching away at first before being reeled in. Rossi tried a series of passing attempts in the first half of the lap, while Stoner had the speed to pull clear in the final corners. Pedrosa was back in third to hold off Alex de Angelis and Colin Edwards. Andrea Dovizioso took sixth on a Honda, ahead of Marco Melandri and Randy de Puniet, followed by Mika Kallio's Pramac on a Ducati.