Round 15 - Turning Japenese I Think We're Turning Japenese I Really Think So...

[flying finn]

Crazy race. Congratulations Casey Stoner. Only the story of how he got there beats this result.

[flying finn]

Championship Standings

1. STONER Casey AUS > 297
2. ROSSI Valentino ITA > 214
3. PEDROSA Dani SPA > 188
4. HOPKINS John USA > 156
5. VERMEULEN Chris AUS > 152
6. MELANDRI Marco ITA > 148
7. CAPIROSSI Loris ITA > 130
8. HAYDEN Nicky USA > 112
9. EDWARDS Colin USA > 108
10. BARROS Alex BRA > 91
11. ELIAS Toni SPA > 87
12. DE PUNIET Randy FRA > 78
13. HOFMANN Alex GER > 65
14. CHECA Carlos SPA > 54
15. WEST Anthony AUS > 54

[bestfit]

West a jumpstart (therefore not deserving an honourably mention )

I'm honorable. I mentioned him.

[BootsOntheSide]

Great victory for Casey Bridgestone. The dominant force all season.

The top teams all seemed to cover each other, while Loris and Guintoli especially were making up ground on slicks. Rossi might've stayed in the hunt if he hadn't pitted, even though the bike was difficult to ride - he had nothing to gain by coming in, no matter how fast he'd've been with fresh tyres.

Amazing that only one rider crashed out despite the tricky conditions. Traction control working too well, or have we got the best guys in the world out there now?

[FPV GTHO]

Maybe a balance of both. TC or no TC they still manage to spin it up even in the dry, so naturally it could also happen in the wet.

[Knowlesy]

Capirossi!!!!!

[f1manoz]

Congratulations to Stoner on his first World Championship. Thoroughly deserved after a near-faultless season.

Really, though, it would have taken an awful amount of bad luck for him to have lost it in these final rounds, but Rossi essentially handed it to him by pitting for that second time when there wasn't much wrong with his bike.

Great win for Capirossi and his experience showed through when he seemed to change bikes / tyres at exactly the right time. Kudos to de Puniet and Elias as well, while Guintoli was oh so close to his first podium and the Dunlop's seemed to love the conditions.

[FPV GTHO]

Originally Posted by f1manoz

Really, though, it would have taken an awful amount of bad luck for him to have lost it in these final rounds, but Rossi essentially handed it to him by pitting for that second time when there wasn't much wrong with his bike.

Maybe it was all the talk of the technicalities where Stoner couldve won it the past 2 rounds, but it felt like it was never going to happen. Rossi was in a position where he probably would have pushed the decider to Phillip Island, but came into the pits. 3 rounds straight of everybody hanging on for it to be finally confirmed i think wouldve been too much

[429CJ]

Since 1974 and Phil Read, MV Agusta, the 500cc/Moto GP class champion is riding for European bike manufacturer.

[asha]

what a great race!

[jhansen]

Congratulations to Casey Stoner, Ducati and Bridgestone. A brilliant season. But really, hats off to Stoner, as he was the one on the bike.

Capirex! Nicely done! I was quite happy for him.

Odd race though. Lots of moments. Bummer for West. But it was needless. As good as he is in the wet all he had to do was be patient.

Originally Posted by f1manoz

but Rossi essentially handed it to him by pitting for that second time when there wasn't much wrong with his bike.

But there was something wrong...Michelin's cut slicks. It was a bad plan. Hayden said he felt the same thing Rossi did, that it felt like he had a flat.

Here's hoping that the last three races are something special.

[Taz Q2]

Congrats to Casey awsome job, have to laugh at the title of the thread every time i see it, as i was told what they were singing about only recently.

[climb]

A great day for the Italian biking world!!!

In the day an italian manufacturer clinches the WDC after 33 years, an Italian biker wins, the one who more than any other contributed to the development of the winning bike.

Then again many woots for Casey, a perfect season, and a fully deserved title!
Far are the times when many called him "rolling Stoner" eh eh eh

[Gerben24]

Pedrosa might have broken a bone... I do hope he will be back in PI.

http://www.crash.net/news_view~cid~6~id~154837.htm

[EGG]

I was hoping the title might be wrapped up at PI (tickets came in the other day, hurrah!), but it was an interesting race all the same, a lot better than the old "corrected time" races.

[Gerben24]

Originally Posted by EGG

I was hoping the title might be wrapped up at PI (tickets came in the other day, hurrah!), but it was an interesting race all the same, a lot better than the old "corrected time" races.

Have fun! PI is one of my favourite races. It's just such a great track!

[jhansen]

Testing took place at Motegi on Monday and Tuesday. Chris Vermeulen was quickest on Monday with Nicky Hayden quickest Tuesday. Rossi debuted a 2008 M1 evolution, which featured a new chassis (2 chassis were actually tested). Hayden tested a new swing arm, fairing, and clutch; all for 2008. Suzuki also debuted a 2008 evolution.

http://www.crash.net/news_view~cid~6~id~154903.htm

http://www.crash.net/news_view~cid~6~id~154912.htm

http://www.crash.net/news_view~cid~6~id~154908.htm

[ozrevhead]

does anyone have net footage of the post race lap and parc ferme stuff for this race??????