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MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo cruises to title as Stoner wins Australian GP

By Tom RostanceBBC Sport

Last updated on .From the section MotoGPcomments42

MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo wins title in Australia

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.

Dani Pedrosa crash hands title to Jorge Lorenzo

"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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42 comments

  • Comment posted by 1878onwards, at 12:54 28 Oct 2012

    Moto GP racing is boring and somewhat predictable at times.
    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.

  • Comment posted by U14700041, at 08:48 28 Oct 2012

    Once again the BBC have spoiled my day by announcing the results of the MotoGP on the news. With other sports you often say "If you don't want to know the results look away". To compound this you also showed Pedrosa crashing out. I will not be watching the race now as the anticipation has been taken out. PLEASE DO NOT ANNOUNCE THE RESULT WITHOUT WARNING!

  • Comment posted by Hawk, at 07:41 28 Oct 2012

    Why is the coverage so anti-Jorge !? the guy has just finished every race in the top 2, except Assen, and still it seems Steve Parish has to make that sound bad and all he could laud about was Casey winnning 10 races last year. It would have been great for Dani to push it further, but come on give the MotoGP champ the credit he deserves given he's been chasing honda on his last engine !

  • Comment posted by U14966550, at 08:58 28 Oct 2012

    Shame. Pedrosa deserved to keep it going until the final race. At least Stoner's got another win before his premature retirement. Well done Jorge, ridiculously consistent all year.

  • Comment posted by U14825856, at 20:02 29 Oct 2012

    Well done to Lorenzo, so consistent all year. Feel awful for Pedrosa - not a nice way to go out of the title hunt. Casey Stoner is the fastest rider I've ever seen, Lorenzo agrees. What a talent.

  • Comment posted by U15389664, at 16:22 28 Oct 2012

    @29 and i agree with you too.

    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!!

  • Comment posted by MrSaturdayNight, at 15:42 28 Oct 2012

    @26
    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.

  • Comment posted by Dirsch, at 14:33 28 Oct 2012

    Jorge deserves to be champion. We all hoped Dani would keep it going to the end, but the best riders stay on the bike - as Jorge miraculously managed in the wet at Sepang.

    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.

  • Comment posted by U15032027, at 14:07 28 Oct 2012

    all I can hope for now is that parrish goes as well as moner or all we will get next year is "casey would do this and casey would have been better tha that"

    congrats to JL and to Cal nice podium

  • Comment posted by matt1il, at 13:59 28 Oct 2012

    Agree with #7 The coverage is very strange, all talk about Stoner, even over the Jorge World Champion VT? No excitement from the commentary team even though he had just won the world championship.

  • Comment posted by bazzer, at 13:01 28 Oct 2012

    Bad luck,Danni.Better luck in 2013.

  • Comment posted by lilu, at 11:26 28 Oct 2012

    It's a pity both of his championships came as his closest rivals both crashed out and spent time off the track for a few races during mid-season. However, he's been consistent, and dare i say it, boring, but having crashed less than the others, won on merit.
    Gratz

  • Comment posted by U15278091, at 08:47 28 Oct 2012

    @democracythreat - let me get this right: Stoner rode beyond his limit and crashed. Lorenzo rode on or within the limit and won the title, but you still think Stoner is the better rider in 2012?

  • Comment posted by Hawk, at 08:17 28 Oct 2012

    @Hal 9000 I agree with your points ref JL and the series, what I don't agree with is the BBCs coverage especially on the day he has won a championship. I feel it's unprofessional.

  • Comment posted by forty, at 08:10 28 Oct 2012

    Congrats to Jorge he is a worthy champion in my opinion.

  • Comment posted by Rach1985, at 18:11 30 Oct 2012

    @40 wow you are a bit picky aren't you ;) what's about the Brit Boys? Why not support them?

  • Comment posted by Lorenzos Flying Circus, at 13:26 30 Oct 2012

    Well done Jorge, consistency wins titles every time. Win it or bin it might be spectacular but it doesn't win titles.
    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.

  • Comment posted by U13878984, at 10:32 30 Oct 2012

    @37: thanks for the suggestion but no, Marquez, although very talented, is another one of these special boys for which rules get changed. I rather support the other equally talented 'normal' boys that have to struggle!

  • Comment posted by bigarthurisgod, at 21:21 29 Oct 2012

    It really does make me laugh when people call Lorenzo arrogant. Ok, in his formative years he had more than his fair share of teenage swagger and if you read his autobiography you'll know why, but he's grown up heaps since he's been in the premier class and it shows in his calculated approach to his racing. Well done Mr Lawrence.

  • Comment posted by Rach1985, at 17:28 29 Oct 2012

    @35 watch next year Marc Marquez might be the man for you, that boy is win or bin

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