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Champion's homecoming at Phillip Island

Posted by Staff
Tuesday, 09 October 2007
The 2007 MotoGP World Championship already decided, the GMC Australian Grand Prix is set to be a raucous occasion for local fans as they hail the homecoming hero at Phillip Island. For the first time since the end of 1998, when Mick Doohan arrived at Phillip Island with the 500cc title already wrapped up, Australia has the chance to use the annual MotoGP visit to pay tribute to the current champion from their homeland. Fresh from clinching his maiden crown at Motegi, Casey Stoner makes his first appearance on track since becoming the second youngest winner of a premier class title. The Ducati factory rider has only been on the podium once at Phillip Island, with a third place in the 125cc category in 2004. However, after having played the points game in Japan motivation will be at an all-time high for Stoner, who has not finished outside of the top six all season and currently holds eight MotoGP victories this year. Before appearing on track this weekend, he also takes part today in his first public appearance at an event in Federation Square, Melbourne at 5pm local time. Although hailing from somewhat further afield, Italian rider Valentino Rossi is likely to have just as many fans in the grandstands as local boy Stoner. The Fiat Yamaha rider has won seven times at Phillip Island, including a five-year run of victories from 2001 to 2005, and is always popular with Australian fans. The five-time MotoGP World Champion is still to confirm second place in the standings, holding a 26-point advantage over third placed Dani Pedrosa. Like Rossi, who experienced tyre problems in Japan, Pedrosa also had a race to forget at Motegi. The Spaniard paid the price for staying out too long on wet tyres, suffering a highside which left him out of the race and heading to the medical centre to assess a foot injury brought about by the crash. Further examination ruled out the possibility of a fracture, and the Repsol Honda rider has returned to training and is expected to be in good shape for his visit to Australia. Still in contention for third place this season, the Suzuki duo of John Hopkins and Chris Vermeulen have been virtually inseparable in their respective most successful seasons to date. Hopkins currently holds the advantage over his team-mate, having earned four points more over the course of the year. Home rider Chris Vermeulen experienced one of his most memorable Grand Prix results at Phillip Island last year, taking his first MotoGP podium in his rookie season. Last year’s race winner Marco Melandri rounds off the top six in the standings, and the Italian created one of the most memorable moments of 2006 when he took victory in the first ever flag-to-flag race, executing a huge powerslide on the final corner whilst giving the victory sign with his fingers. Picking up momentum at recent races, Melandri is hoping for a strong finish to his final season with Gresini Honda. Loris Capirossi was triumphant at the most recent flag-to-flag race at Motegi, the first to have been started in the wet. The veteran Ducati rider is also expecting a positive push in the last three races of the year, before he too moves on to pastures new at Suzuki. The top ten is completed by 2006 MotoGP World Champion Nicky Hayden, fellow American Colin Edwards and Brazilian veteran Alex Barros. The third Australian participant at Phillip Island will be Anthony West, who makes his first appearance at his home race since signing for Kawasaki.

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