Casey Stoner wins second straight Australian Grand Prix

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Casey Stoner wins second straight Australian Grand Prix. Photo: EFE

Casey Stoner has won his second straight Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island, leading from pole position for the entire race and a 6.5-second win over Valentino Rossi.

Stoner, the 2007 world champion, finished the 27-lap race in a time of 40 minutes, 56.643 seconds, then grabbed an Australian flag for a victory lap around the Phillip Island circuit.

Earlier, France's Mike di Meglio clinched the 125cc world title after he won the race while Italy's Marco Simoncelli increased his championship lead in the 250cc class after he pipped Spain's Alvaro Bautista in a closely-fought tussle.

Rossi, who wrapped up the 2008 world championship last week with a win in Japan, secured his 12th straight podium finish in Australia after moving up from 12th on the grid after a crash in qualifying Saturday. American Nicky Hayden finished third.

Australia MotoGP results on Sunday from Phillip Island:

1. Casey Stoner (Australia) Ducati 40:56.643
2. Valentino Rossi (Italy) Yamaha 41:03.147
3. Nicky Hayden (U.S.) Honda 41:03.848
4. Jorge Lorenzo (Spain) Yamaha 41:08.143
5. Shinya Nakano (Japan) Honda 41:08.557
6. James Toseland (Britain) Yamaha 41:08.886
7. Andrea Dovizioso (Italy) Honda 41:09.423
8. Colin Edwards (U.S.) Yamaha 41:22.563
9. Randy de Puniet (France) Honda 41:22.680
10. Loris Capirossi (Italy) Suzuki 41:23.442
11. Toni Elias (Spain) Ducati 41:23.670
12. Anthony West (Australia) Kawasaki 41:44.451
13. John Hopkins (U.S.) Kawasaki 41:44.976
14. Sylvain Guintoli (France) Ducati 41:45.542
15. Chris Vermeulen (Australia) Suzuki 41:45.578

Results from the Australian grand prix 250cc at Phillip Island on Sunday:

1. Marco Simoncelli (Italy) Gilera 39:02.553
2. Alvaro Bautista (Spain) Aprilia 39:02.776
3. Mika Kallio (Finland) KTM 39:17.003
4. Julian Simon (Spain) KTM 39:17.031
5. Alex Debon (Spain) Aprilia 39:28.779
6. Roberto Locatelli (Italy) Gilera 39:28.945
7. Yuki Takahashi (Japan) Honda 39:28.987
8. Aleix Espargaro (Spain) Aprilia 39:43.099
9. Ratthapark Wilairot (Thailand) Honda 40:02.772
10. Fabrizio Lai (Italy) Gilera 40:23.378
11. Karel Abraham (Czech Republic) Aprilia 40:25.355
12. Alex Baldolini (Italy) Aprilia 40:25.417
13. Imre Toth (Hungary) Aprilia 40:26.548
14. Lukas Pesek (Czech Republic) Aprilia 40:42.293
15. Simone Grotzkyj (Italy) Gilera +1 Laps

Australian grand prix 125cc race result from Phillip Island on Sunday:

1. Mike Di Meglio (France) Derbi 37:55.589
2. Stefan Bradl (Germany) Aprilia 38:05.844
3. Gabor Talmacsi (Hungary) Aprilia 38:08.695
4. Andrea Iannone (Italy) Aprilia 38:08.738
5. Pol Espargaro (Spain) Derbi 38:22.385
6. Sandro Cortese (Germany) Aprilia 38:22.712
7. Esteve Rabat (Spain) KTM 38:22.770
8. Marc Marquez (Spain) KTM 38:22.876
9. Simone Corsi (Italy) Aprilia 38:23.460
10. Scott Redding (Britain) Aprilia 38:30.676
11. Efren Vazquez (Spain) Aprilia 38:52.981
12. Lorenzo Zanetti (Italy) KTM 38:53.002
13. Pablo Nieto (Spain) KTM 38:53.040
14. Joan Olive (Spain) Derbi 38:53.128
15. Robin Laesser (Germany) Aprilia 39:01.907