Stoner storms to Sepang success

SEPANG, Malaysia -- World champion Casey Stoner confirmed his domination of MotoGP with his 10th victory of the 2007 season at the Malaysian Grand Prix on Sunday.

The Australian Ducati rider led for most of the race after starting from second place on the grid, finishing the 21-lap race 1.701 seconds ahead of runner-up Marco Melandri of Italy with a leading time of 43 minutes and 4.405 seconds.

Spain's Dani Pedrosa was third on a Honda in 43:06.731 as he cut the gap on Valentino Rossi, who is second overall, to 24 points with just one round to go in Spain on November 4.

Five-time world champion Rossi could only place fifth on his Yamaha behind Frenchman Randy De Puniet.

Stoner, who clinched his first world title in Japan last month, now leads Rossi by a massive 106 points.

He claimed victory at Sepang for the first time in MotoGP, having previously won at the circuit in the 125cc race in 2004 and the 250cc event in 2005.

"Riding conditions were difficult. It was also difficult to be in front all by myself," he said.

Melandri, who is fourth overall, added: "It has been a great weekend for me in Sepang. It was an amazing race."

Pedrosa said: "At the start I had problems in braking. But after the petrol level when down, I was able to increase my speed."

Rossi still needs one more point at Valencia to clinch second overall in what has been a disappointing year for the Italian.

"Of course I am disappointed with the fifth place," he said.

Spain's Jorge Lorenzo earlier clinched the world 250cc title with third place behind race winner Hiroshi Aoyama of Japan, while Hungary's Gabor Talmacsi claimed his third 125cc victory of the season. E-mail to a friend

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