Casey Stoner (Honda) captured his second MotoGP championship earlier today in his home country of Australia at the Phillip Island circuit. Stoner won the race to clinch the 2011 title early after his closest competitor Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) was sidelined due to a finger injury suffered during this morning’s warm-up. Finishing second and third behind Stoner were Honda-mounted riders Marco Simoncelli and Andrea Dovizioso.
For additional details, results and points, visit the official MotoGP site.
Stoner is champion. He is the best this year and earned the championship. That was some freaky weather during the last few laps. I couldn’t help gasping every time Stoner turned into the corners with slicks on and the rain coming down. I feel bad for Rossi and probably like most of you, saw his crash coming before it happened when he was pushing hard to catch Hayden and Bautista. But it was his decision to go to Ducati and he has to live with it. Hopefully for him and his fans, he will have a better feel from next years bike and be more competative. I am glad the 800’s are done and the 1000’s are almost here. Personally, I’d love to see the 500 2-stroke come back (more rider input, less electronics) but know this will never happen and I can appreciate the trickle down technology that our streetbikes have received. For next year, I predict WSBK Champion, AMA Superbike Champion Ben Spies, but it should be a close, hard fought championship.
I would love to see Ben win it next year! It might be a little too early to start those discussions now though. 🙂 I agree, can’t WAIT for the 1000CC bikes!!
Dang it all. The one race of the season that I don’t set up correctly and my DVR doesn’t record. Sounds like I missed a great race…
Brinskee I wouldn’t call it a great race, but Stoner put on a riding clinic. Lots of crashes when it started raining, and some riders that were battling Pedrosa, Dovi and Simo in particular for the remaing two podium spots became quite cautious and spread out a bit rather than risk crashing. Seeing Stoner slide the Honda around though, was worth the price of admission. I’ve said it before those boys have some talent when it comes to riding a motorcycle.
Rossi = crasher.
Congrats Casey, you earned it!
the headline should read with a paraphrase… “Phillip Island MotoGP Results (Team Blue Goes Tits Up Down Under)”. talk about a contrast in fortunes on the day. the weirdest things (both good and bad) just seem to happen in OZ. torrential weather, ridiculous rain on one side of the circuit but not the other, gull strikes, erasing 10 sec yellow flag penaltys, pushed off track during your first race, double DNS for a top motogp team (when the freak has that ever happened?), crazy save for a 5th win and a world title, etc. etc.
almost forgot… rossi tucking the front into MG while passing a SUZUKI…? the world has taken a turn for the surreal. anyway congrats to casey (CS27)…! congrats to honda (HRC)…! 2 brands that after 4 years can finally breath a sigh of vindication. the bar has now been raised. a severly tough one this for anybody to jump over. moto1 may as well not even grid up next year..? 🙁 or run as a “class within a class” like lemans or grand am.
Congrats to Stoner, he certainly earned it and was the class of this years MotoGP season. That slide in the rain about 3 laps from the end was awesome as was the slow mo of him in the uphill left hander sliding the rear.
Without Lorenzo and Spies it was a Honda frieght train at the front. Tough luck again for Bautista.