/world sport
PHILLIP ISLAND, Australia -- Casey Stoner celebrated winning the World MotoGP championship with a dominant performance in front of his home fans to claim the Australian round at Phillip Island on Sunday.
Stoner toasts a superb success at his home MotoGP.
The 21-year-old, who clinched the title in the previous round in Japan, was claiming his ninth victory of the season and was never headed after taking the lead from third on the grid.
He eventually finished ahead of his Ducati team-mate Loris Capirossi with five-tiem world champion Valentino Rossi of Italy in third place.
Stoner is the first home winner in Australia since Mick Doohan in 1998.
Victory was never in serious doubt after he overtook polesitter Dani Pedrosa and Rossi on the first corner of the 4.5-kilometre track.
2006 World champion Nicky Hayden mounted a spirited challenge before being forced out with mechanical problems as Stoner had a near seven second advantage over Capirossi at the finish with Rossi a further 3.5 seconds further back.
Stoner claimed an unassailable lead over nearest championship rival Rossi in Japan two weeks ago with three rounds still remaining.
Spain's Jorge Lorenzo dominated the 250cc race on his Aprilia, finishing over 19 seconds ahead of the rest of the field to open up a 45 point lead in the championship standings.
Lorenzo's compatriot Alvaro Bautista took second place, narrowly edging out Italian Andrea Dovizioso. E-mail to a friend 
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