MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo cruises to title as Stoner wins Australian GP
Last updated on .From the section MotoGP
Jorge Lorenzo secured his second MotoGP world championship as he finished second in the Australian GP.
Australian Casey Stoner won at Phillip Island for the sixth year in a row, but Repsol Honda team-mate Dani Pedrosa crashed out of the lead.
Pedrosa, who needed to finish ahead of fellow Spaniard Lorenzo to keep the title race alive going into the final race of the season, crashed on lap two.
Briton Cal Crutchlow claimed third, his second podium finish of the season.
Yamaha rider Lorenzo, who first won the title in 2010, started the race with a 23-point advantage over Pedrosa and was as good as handed the title when the latter crashed out.
Stoner, who retires at the end of the season, had been dominant from first practice on Friday and was able to cruise to his fifth victory of the season.
"This moment is so sweet for me," Lorenzo told BBC Sport. "I've been very patient and concentrating hard for so long and now the title has come.
"I was nervous in the last few laps. I almost crashed in turn two but I brought it home."
Stoner started from pole position but was passed going into the first turn by Lorenzo and Pedrosa.
Pedrosa hit the front at turn five and Stoner moved into second at the end of the first lap.
The title was all but settled in dramatic fashion as Pedrosa ran wide into Honda corner and lost the front end of his bike.
Pedrosa, who attempted to rejoin the race but had to retire, said: "Congratulations to Casey for his sixth win at his home Grand Prix and to Lorenzo because he deserved the championship.
"It's a sad feeling more than disappointment. I pushed as hard as I could. Sometimes it goes your way, sometimes it doesn't.
"I have no regrets for my riding. I feel very proud of my team and of my performance throughout the year."
Stoner said: "When I knew I only had a few laps left and a big lead, I was watching the crowd and it was fantastic to see everyone cheering me on. It made me very proud to be Australian.
"My biggest congratulations to Jorge. He's ridden an almost perfect season finishing first or second when possible."
Earlier, Marc Marquez, who is replacing Stoner at Repsol Honda next year, sealed the Moto2 title with a third-place finish.
Pol Espargaro took the race win, with Australian Anthony West second and Briton Scott Redding fourth.
New champion Sandro Cortese won the Moto3 race, with British rider Danny Kent in fifth.
Australian MotoGP results:
1. Casey Stoner (Aus) Repsol Honda - 41 minutes 1.324 seconds
2. Jorge Lorenzo (Spa) Yamaha - 41:10.547
3. Cal Crutchlow (GB) Tech 3 Yamaha - 41:15.894
4. Andrea Dovizioso (Ita) Tech 3 Yamaha - 41:24.627
5. Alvaro Bautista (Spa) Gresini Honda - 41:24.756
6. Stefan Bradl (Ger) LCR Honda - 41:24.791
7. Valentino Rossi (Ita) Ducati - 41:38.437
8. Nicky Hayden (USA) Ducati - 41:39.711
9. Karel Abraham (Cze) Cardion Ducati - 41:53.937
10. Aleix Espargaro (Spa) Aspar ART - 42:01.623
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It more often than not turns into a procession and the actual racing becomes very minimal.
It should not be about just speed.
Watched most of British superbikes and the racing WAS racing.
Moto needs a change.
When a full minute exist's between 1st and 10th place,it's not good for the sport.
after you watch moto 3 and moto 2 moto gp is boring. 1000cc bikes was the wrong way to go. go back down to 500cc bikes and then the lap time is more about the rider then the bike. Moto 2 and Moto 3 evolved from the 125 and 250 classes. so Moto GP needs to evolve too. crt hasnt worked either, it has just made a 2 tier championship. smaller bikes, better riders!!
its not boring. and judging by your name you clearly have an issue with anything british. its a bit sad that you feel the need to 'bash' britain instead of just enjoying the motogp, still, you can thank the british bbc for giving you the oppurtunity to show your ignorance. great gp today, nice to see casey smashing it.
Neither Dani nor Casey are world champion because they came off. It's tough, but isn't handing the title to Jorge on any plate. In the end Jorge rode better and is enjoying his just reward, but I hope it's less boring in 2013.
congrats to JL and to Cal nice podium
Gratz
I expect the same again next year, Rossi will win a few, Pedrosa will win a few, even Marquez might get a win but the sheer consistency of Lorenzo will see him to the title again.