Race Results
STONER SEALS HOME WIN IN DUCATI'S 100TH MOTOGP RACE

Casey Stoner took his fifth victory of the season, his second in a row at Phillip Island, and with it celebrated a special milestone for Ducati today.  This was the Italian factory's 100th MotoGP race since joining the series in 2003.

For Stoner this was his 15th win and it came from pole position after a dominant weekend from the Australian at his home Grand Prix. 

After clocking a new pole record here yesterday, overnight changes to the set-up of his Desmosedici gave him a further edge today and only Nicky Hayden was able to give chase before eventually relenting.

Since 2003 the Italian factory has claimed the 2007 Rider, Constructors and Team Titles, 58 podiums - 23 of them victories - and 22 pole positions.

It has been another tough Grand Prix for Marco Melandri.  The winner of this race in 2006 has been unable to get close to that kind of form this season and he wasn't helped by a series of crashes this weekend, eventually crossing the line out of the points in 16th place today.

Casey Stoner (Ducati Marlboro Team): 1st:  "This weekend has been a bit like the whole season - up and down!  Thankfully it's finished on a high and it's a great feeling to win my home Grand Prix in front of all these wonderful fans, with my family here too.

That's largely down to the hard work of my team because we've had some issues with the bike here but today it felt great and I was able to push hard from the first lap.  Sometimes at this track you can have the best pace but still get dragged into a battle but I was able to get away, even though Nicky chased me hard for a long time before eventually dropping off and giving me some breathing space.

It's been a great year for me and even though we haven't won the title I feel proud of our achievements.  If we can battle for the championship again next year that would be great but for now I'm just going to enjoy winning my home GP."

Rossi Runs Through the Field to Take Second
Fiat Yamaha rider and 2008 World Champion Valentino Rossi recovered from yesterday's mishap to charge through the field from the fourth row at Phillip Island today, eventually taking second behind Casey Stoner.

His team-mate Jorge Lorenzo took a second consecutive fourth place after a race long battle with several other riders.

A mistake during qualifying yesterday had left Rossi with strained neck muscles and a grid position of 12th, but the Italian relishes a challenge and he was already up to eighth by the end of the first lap, despite narrowly missing a collision when Alex de Angelis crashed out in front of him.

On lap four Rossi found himself the back marker of a Yamaha trio, behind his team-mate Lorenzo and Tech 3 rider James Toseland.  He dispatched the Spaniard within two laps and got by Toseland soon after but the Briton put up a spirited challenge, wresting third back and hanging on for five more laps until Rossi eventually got the better of him.

With a podium place secure the eight-time champion could have been forgiven for coasting home but he is never one to take the easy option and, with clear air and his M1 and Bridgestone tires working perfectly, he gradually began to close on Nicky Hayden, who was nearly six seconds ahead.

Little-by-little he made up the gap until he was within striking distance, making his move on the very last lap to take second and his 14th podium of the season.

After an intense two weeks the MotoGP paddock now has a two week rest before the penultimate round in Malaysia on 19th October.

Valentino Rossi - Position: 2nd Time: +6.504:  "That was a very exciting race for me, from start to finish!  Unfortunately I made a small mistake yesterday and I paid a high price for it - both with my starting position and with my body!  This morning my neck was okay but I had a lot of pain in my head, so I have to say thank you to Dr. Costa and the Clinica Mobile because they gave me a lot of massage and some medicine and I was in better shape for the race.

I got a good start and I was lucky to miss de Angelis by just a couple of centimeters, and then I arrived to Lorenzo and Toseland.  The first time I passed James I thought I would be able to go but then he passed me back and I realized that his pace was not so bad, and we had a great battle!

He was very strong and difficult to pass but once I did get by I was able to go and then I just kept pushing and gradually Nicky got bigger and bigger.  It was fun to keep fighting till the last lap and I am very happy with this second position because it's always a great emotion to be on the podium here.

Thanks to my team and to Bridgestone, with Casey as strong as he was I think this was the best we could have done today and I really enjoyed the race."

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