Glory for Casey and sadness for Dani in Phillip Island

Today, the Repsol Honda team has tasted glory and disappointment in equal measures at the Australian Grand Prix. The glory, seeing the 2011 World Champion, Casey Stoner, celebrating victory at his last home race of his career, with a sixth consecutive win at Phillip Island, the fifth of the 2012 season and 45th of his career, 38 of them in MotoGP.

On the flip side, there was huge disappointment for the Repsol Honda Team as title contender Dani Pedrosa crashed out on the second lap in a race he was pushing to win, despite the incredible domaination his teammate Casey showed throughout the weekend.

Dani took the lead on the first lap, overtaking Lorenzo in Turn 4, and in that same turn, a lap later, he lost the front and his race and title hopes were over. Casey started to increase his amazing pace lap by lap to take the checkered flag 9.2 seconds ahead of Jorge Lorenzo, who with this result was crowned MotoGP World Champion. The Repsol Honda riders have now consolidated their final standings in the 2012 Championship, Dani in 2nd and Casey 3rd with one race to go, in Valencia in two weeks time.

CASEY STONER 1st World Championship Standing: 3rd with 238 points

“It was very important for me to win a race before the end of the season and I’m really happy to do it here, at home, in front of the huge crowd. My biggest worry was to be fit again and competitive for this race, but we managed it and we had something over everyone else and this was the perfect way to say goodbye here. I was pretty nervous going into the race but the conditions were fantastic for a Phillip Island race! 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 1st or 2nd when possible and I’m just disappointed not to be in the championship fight, but I made my own mistakes and this is how things go. My condolences to Dani – I saw him crash out in front of me – but he had to push today and go out and win the race to keep his championship hopes alive. It was a small mistake, easy to do in this corner and I feel very sorry for him. Thanks to everyone for coming down and showing their support!”

DANI PEDROSA DNF World Championship Standing: 2nd with 307 points

“It’s a sad feeling more than disappointment; I pushed as hard as I could; I did what I had to do and I have no regrets for my riding, especially this season. I feel very proud of my team and of my performance throughout the year. I think after what happened in Misano, we showed a very good attitude, skill and power. So, there is some sadness because we’ve been closer than ever to take the title, but also proud for all we achieved. Concerning the crash, it was nothing strange; I just went wider on the corner, I had some chatter and lost the front; maybe the tyre was not warm enough as well, but it’s like it is. Congratulations to Casey for his sixth win at his home Grand Prix and to Lorenzo because he deserved the championship, as well as Marc Márquez in Moto2″.

SHUHEI NAKAMOTO – HRC EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

“Today has been a very special day for us. So sad to see Dani out of the Championship as we really believed it was possible to achieve, but so happy to see Casey win here in Phillip Island again. Anyway, that’s racing and we must congratulate Jorge for the great season he has done this year. We will try again to beat him in 2013!”

Circuit information

First race 1989 GPs held 17 Laps 27 Race distance 120.096km / 74.628miles Track length 4.448km / 2.764miles Track width 13m Longest straight 0.900km / 0.559miles Corners 12 (5 right, 7 left) Pole position Left Grandstands capacity Temporary facilities as required Circuit total capacity 150,000   Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit RMB 500GP Cowes Victoris 3922 Australia Tel: +61 3 5952 2710 Fax: +61 3 5952 3160 Email: info@phillipislandcircuit.com.au Website: www.phillipislandcircuit.com.au

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