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MOTEGI - Australian Casey Stoner clinched a sensational first MotoGP world title by finishing ahead of Italy's Valentino Rossi in the Japanese Grand Prix.
The 21-year-old finished sixth with Rossi's mathematical hopes of halting the Ducati rider's championship charge ended as his Yamaha limped home in 13th on a wet Motegi track.
Stoner became his country's first world champion since Mick Doohan won the last of his five 500cc crowns in 1998 and also the second youngest premier-class champion in the sport's history.
As Stoner pulled a wheelie on crossing the finish line the Ducati pit crew danced with delight as the Italian manufacturer celebrated their first MotoGP title.
Ducati also became the first non-Japanese team to win the premier-class title since MV Agusta won the 500cc championship in 1974.
"It's a little bit overwhelming because we didn't really expect to get it at this race," said Stoner, who began from ninth on the grid while Rossi was on the front row.
"The race started out quite well but unfortunately my tyres started to destroy themselves. Then Valentino had a problem so it has come on quite quickly. I didn't really expect to be world champion today. This feels unreal!"
Stoner's Italian team mate Loris Capirossi won an incident-packed race in 47 minutes 5.484 seconds for his third straight victory in Japan.
France's Randy de Puniet finished second for Kawasaki in 47:16.337 with Spaniard Toni Elias third on a Honda in 47:17.100.
Avoided trouble
Stoner's time of 47:36.663 was almost irrelevant as he sensibly avoided any late trouble in the 24-lap race at the high-speed "Twin Ring" circuit. The baby-faced Australian, who needed to finish the race ahead of Rossi to clinch the title, increased his lead over the Italian to an insurmountable 83 points with three races left.
Rossi had kept his slim title hopes alive by winning in Portugal last week but the five-times premier class champion suffered technical and tyre problems after a flying start.
The championship rivals went tyre-to-tyre until all riders were forced into the pits with the track drying out after morning showers.
When Rossi was forced to pit again on his second bike after it had developed braking trouble, Stoner was able to ride conservatively to reduce the risk of skidding off.
"We always fought but we had some problems and in the end we are second," Rossi said.
"It's not bad but it was a difficult season for us.
"Great congratulations to Ducati and to Stoner. I'm very happy for him and at the end, I think they deserve it."
Honda's Dani Pedrosa did fall victim to the slippery conditions, spectacularly sliding into the gravel with 10 laps to go to end any flickering hope the diminutive Spaniard had of pinching the title.
Stoner, who has won eight out of the 15 races so far this season, has 297 points with Rossi on 214. Pedrosa has 188 with races in Australia, Malaysia and Spain remaining.
- REUTERS
