Australia's Stoner secures MotoGP title in Japan

Australian Casey Stoner clinched a sensational first MotoGP world title by finishing ahead of Italy's Valentino Rossi in yesterday's 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.

"Then Valentino had a problem so it came on quite quickly. I didn't really expect to be world champion today.

"I want to say a big 'thank you' to anyone who has had anything to do with my career."

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.

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 problems after a flying start.

The two championship rivals went tyre-to-tyre until all riders were forced into the pits with the track drying out after morning showers.

When Rossi's second bike developed braking trouble, Stoner was able to ride conservatively to reduce the risk of skidding off.

Honda's Dani Pedrosa did just that, spectacularly sliding onto the gravel with 10 laps to go to end any flickering hope the diminutive Spaniard had of clinching the title.

Stoner has won eight out of the 15 races so far this season with grands prix in Australia, Malaysia and Spain remaining.

Kallio breaks duck

Finland's Mika Kallio stormed to his first 250cc victory with a superb ride for KTM yesterday.

Kallio, who won at Motegi in 2005 and 2006 in the 125cc category, continued his mastery of the circuit to finish 4.839 seconds ahead of Honda's Andrea Dovizioso.

The Italian closed the gap on championship leader Jorge Lorenzo to 36 points with three races left after the Spaniard could only finish 11th on his Aprilia.

Aprilia's Mattia Pasini won his fourth 125cc race of the season from pole position yesterday.

The Italian began to surge away from championship leader Gabor Talmacsi with eight of the 21 laps left, finishing just under three seconds clear of the Hungarian.

Talmacsi's title challenger Hector Faubel finished third as Aprilia swept the podium. Talmacsi has 229 points in the championship standings with Faubel on 220.