Motorsport: Whincup bounces back to win

Jamie Whincup. Photo / Getty Images

Ford's Jamie Whincup bounced back from a dismal Gold Coast round to win the V8 Supercars' first race at the Phillip Island 300 yesterday.

Whincup extended his lead in the championship over Holden's Will Davison, who finished second. Rick Kelly's Holden was third.

Whincup lost serious ground to Davison at the Surfers Paradise weekend and went into the third last round with a slender 32-point lead.

He trailed Davison at the start but leap-frogged him at the pitstop to take the lead and was never headed.

The safety car was called out on lap 15 which bunched the field up, allowing Davison to close up on the rear of Whincup. As racing quickly resumed, Whincup spurted away.

Jason Bright's Ford had pole position for the race after being quickest in the Top 10 Shootout but he was swamped at the start as Davison led into the first turn.

Bright was then relegated to the last pack in the field when he ran wide off the track during the first lap and never recovered.

Craig Lowndes and Todd Kelly had their own battle with seven laps remaining.

Lowndes squeezed his Ford past Kelly's Holden and the pair raced down the main straight before entering turn two together and touching, sending both cars off.

Kelly was out but Lowndes rejoined the race in 21st spot.

In Valencia, Spain, Australia's Casey Stoner set the pace in the first free practice session for today's season-ending MotoGP.

The Ducati rider held off Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa, with world champion Valentino Rossi fourth.

- AGENCIES