Stoner clinches home race

MELBOURNE -Australia’s Casey Stoner overcame a persistent wrist injury and the disappointment of relinquishing his world title last week to clinch his home MotoGP at Phillip Island for the second successive year yesterday.

The 2007 world champion beat Valentino Rossi by more than six seconds to the delight of the 50 541-strong home crowd, several thousand of whom stormed across the track at the conclusion of the race. American Nicky Hayden finished third.Rossi, who had treatment on his neck after falling during qualifying on Saturday, wrapped up his fifth world MotoGP world title, and sixth premier-class title overall, in Japan last week.”It wasn’t really a disappointment because I lost the championship when I had those two crashes, and Valentino rode really well,” the 22-year-old Stoner told reporters.”Before the championship last year we didn’t expect even to be in the top three and to be world champion last year and at the moment we’re running second this year is something you have to be proud of, no matter what.”If we have the opportunity to fight for it again next year then great but we’re very happy on (winning) the home GP.”Stoner, who will have surgery at the end of the season to fix a broken bone in his wrist, blasted away from pole on his Ducati and led for all 27 laps of the 4.45-km track in sunny conditions.Rossi started on the fourth row in 12th and moved through the field before he caught Hayden on the final lap.He has finished outside the top-three just twice in 16 races this season.Earlier, France’s Mike di Meglio won the 125cc world title with a dominant victory ahead of Stefan Bradl of Germany.Hungary’s 2007 world champion Gabor Talmacsi finished third.Italy’s Marco Simoncelli clinched the 250 race and extended his world championship lead to 37 points after an intriguing battle with closest rival Alvaro Bautista of Spain.Finland’s Mika Kallio finished third.Nampa-ReutersAmerican Nicky Hayden finished third.Rossi, who had treatment on his neck after falling during qualifying on Saturday, wrapped up his fifth world MotoGP world title, and sixth premier-class title overall, in Japan last week.”It wasn’t really a disappointment because I lost the championship when I had those two crashes, and Valentino rode really well,” the 22-year-old Stoner told reporters.”Before the championship last year we didn’t expect even to be in the top three and to be world champion last year and at the moment we’re running second this year is something you have to be proud of, no matter what.”If we have the opportunity to fight for it again next year then great but we’re very happy on (winning) the home GP.”Stoner, who will have surgery at the end of the season to fix a broken bone in his wrist, blasted away from pole on his Ducati and led for all 27 laps of the 4.45-km track in sunny conditions.Rossi started on the fourth row in 12th and moved through the field before he caught Hayden on the final lap.He has finished outside the top-three just twice in 16 races this season.Earlier, France’s Mike di Meglio won the 125cc world title with a dominant victory ahead of Stefan Bradl of Germany.Hungary’s 2007 world champion Gabor Talmacsi finished third.Italy’s Marco Simoncelli clinched the 250 race and extended his world championship lead to 37 points after an intriguing battle with closest rival Alvaro Bautista of Spain.Finland’s Mika Kallio finished third.Nampa-Reuters