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Stoner seals title, Lorenzo hurt
Source: Agencies |
October 17, 2011, Monday
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CASEY Stoner marked his 26th birthday by clinching the MotoGP world title with a fifth successive Australian Grand Prix victory yesterday but the celebrations were overshadowed by a sickening finger injury to Jorge Lorenzo.
The 24-year-old Spaniard was rushed to a Melbourne hospital for emergency plastic surgery after a finger on his left hand was severely injured in a crash during practice before the race at Phillip Island.
The injury ruled Lorenzo out of the race and ensured Stoner would only need a top-six finish to clinch the title, but the Australian had little intention of coasting to the line, eventually crossing more than two seconds in front of teammate Marco Simoncelli.
Stoner, who coolly closed out victory as gusty winds and late showers played havoc with riders' concentration, had mixed feelings about his second world title after winning the first with Ducati in 2007.
"It's not the way I wanted to win the championship but at the same time we felt we had the momentum, we had the best chance of winning the championship out of anyone," Stoner told reporters.
"If it didn't happen here, I do believe it would have happened in Malaysia," he added, referring to the second-last stop in Sepang next week.
"As far I know Jorge should make a good recovery from this and I don't think it will affect his riding in the future so I'll expect him to be strong."
Stoner had said he had felt "sick" after seeing officials scouring around the track for the end of Lorenzo's finger, but a Yamaha team spokesman later said that the Spaniard had not severed it, though it was badly injured.
Lorenzo's misfortune helped Stoner to an unassailable 65-point lead over the Spaniard.
Italian Valentino Rossi's dismal first season with Ducati continued, with the seven-time premier class champion's race ending on the 14th lap after a slide off the track.
Suzuki's Alvaro Bautista, Honda's Hiroshi Aoyama and Yamaha-rider Cal Crutchlow also retired after coming to grief in the wet on their 24th lap of the 27-lap race.
The 24-year-old Spaniard was rushed to a Melbourne hospital for emergency plastic surgery after a finger on his left hand was severely injured in a crash during practice before the race at Phillip Island.
The injury ruled Lorenzo out of the race and ensured Stoner would only need a top-six finish to clinch the title, but the Australian had little intention of coasting to the line, eventually crossing more than two seconds in front of teammate Marco Simoncelli.
Stoner, who coolly closed out victory as gusty winds and late showers played havoc with riders' concentration, had mixed feelings about his second world title after winning the first with Ducati in 2007.
"It's not the way I wanted to win the championship but at the same time we felt we had the momentum, we had the best chance of winning the championship out of anyone," Stoner told reporters.
"If it didn't happen here, I do believe it would have happened in Malaysia," he added, referring to the second-last stop in Sepang next week.
"As far I know Jorge should make a good recovery from this and I don't think it will affect his riding in the future so I'll expect him to be strong."
Stoner had said he had felt "sick" after seeing officials scouring around the track for the end of Lorenzo's finger, but a Yamaha team spokesman later said that the Spaniard had not severed it, though it was badly injured.
Lorenzo's misfortune helped Stoner to an unassailable 65-point lead over the Spaniard.
Italian Valentino Rossi's dismal first season with Ducati continued, with the seven-time premier class champion's race ending on the 14th lap after a slide off the track.
Suzuki's Alvaro Bautista, Honda's Hiroshi Aoyama and Yamaha-rider Cal Crutchlow also retired after coming to grief in the wet on their 24th lap of the 27-lap race.
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