LORIS
CAPIROSSI SCORES GREAT MOTEGI WIN, CASEY STONER 2007 WORLD CHAMPION
Sunday Sep 23 2007
The Ducati MotoGp Team enjoyed its greatest day in Japan today, Casey
Stoner securing Ducati's first MotoGP World Championship and Loris
Capirossi winning the race, run in tricky conditions on a drying track.
The result triggered scenes of unbridled joy in the Ducati MotoGp Team
pit, in the more than one thousand fans who watched the race in the
Borgo Panigale Factory with the CEO Gabriele Del Torchio among them and
in all the Ducatistis around the world.
Australian genius Stoner had to finish today's race ahead of Valentino
Rossi to wrap up the title with three GPs remaining, and he did that, no
problem, finishing sixth after leading the early stages. The race
couldn't have been more nerve-wracking: it started on a slightly damp
track, most riders choosing rain tyres, then the circuit dried out
enough for riders to swap to slick-equipped bikes. Capirossi was one of
the first riders to switch, at the end of lap nine, and his strategy
paid rich dividends, the 2005 and 2006 Japanese GP winner going on to
score a Motegi hat-trick, 10.853 seconds ahead of his closest rival.
Stoner swapped bikes at the end of lap 14 and maintained his renowned
cool to become the second youngest premier-class World Champion, after
American legend Freddie Spencer. So far this year Stoner has won eight
races, taken three further podium finished and scored five pole
positions.
CASEY STONER, 6th, 2007 MotoGP World Champion on 297
points
"At the moment it all feels a little bit unrealistic! I'm struggling for
words, I don't think there's any feeling that can compare to this, but I
think it's really going to sink in as the day goes on and heads into
tomorrow. The race started out quite well, we were able to get up front
quite early and I had a reasonably good feeling with the bike, I was in
a happy position. But then my rain tyres started wearing out as the
track dried, and Valentino and Dani (Pedrosa) came past. I didn't really
know whether to come in or not, then my team put 'box' on my pitboard,
so I had a bit more confidence to come in. After I changed bikes there
was something up with the steering damper, the bike wasn't allowing me
to tip into corners, so I had to slow down to unwind it. Then I started
to find more of a rhythm, Valentino had a problem and we managed to
finish ahead of him. I guess that was the aim of the game today. Towards
the end everything was creeping into my head, so I just tried to stay
focused on the job in hand, I wanted to bring it home for my team. The
whole thing is a bit overwhelming, because we didn't really expect to
get the championship today, it's come on me quite quickly. There's a lot
of people I have to thank: my parents, who have always been there for
me, they've supported me throughout my career, my wife Adriana's who's
been there this season and the past few and everyone else who's helped
me along the way - Ducati, my whole team, Bridgestone tyres, a big
thanks to everyone who's had anything to with my career - we finally did
it!"
LORIS CAPIROSSI, winner, 7th in World
Championship on 130 points
"We struggled a lot this weekend and only yesterday did we find a better
set-up solution. When I woke this morning and saw the rain I said 'wow,
for sure this is going to be a difficult day'. We didn't know which
would be the best tyres to use, so we started with medium rain tyres. At
first it was really difficult, so I decided to pit early, and for sure
my tactic was the best because I won my third consecutive race here,
it's a great moment for me. It's also a great day for Casey, for Ducati
and for the team. I congratulate Casey, he's a really strong rider, I'm
very happy for him."
GABRIELE DEL TORCHIO CEO Ducati Motor Holding
"This success, besides its great strategic value, is the best
demonstration of Ducati excellence, is a triumph of Italian
intelligence, talent, competences and the warmth that is one of our
country's most vital assets. It's an important and remarkable
achievement, 34 years after the premier-class World Championship was
last won by an Italian factory. It is a dream come true. We are speaking
of a great feat realised thanks to Casey's commitment, bravery and team
work, united with the work of our draughtsmen, technicians, engineers,
team members, sponsors and everyone at the factory. They have all worked
with great passion and great skill to obtain this championship win, a
success emphasized by today's win by Loris, to whom we say a hearty
thank you for the great job he's done these past five years. The joy and
the pride of experiencing this historic championship result pay back all
our efforts and can only encourage us towards even more important and
remarkable goals, both in the sporting and commercial arenas."
CLAUDIO DOMENICALI, Ducati Corse CEO/Ducati Motor
Holding product director
"It is a dream come true - a fantastic feeling, really fantastic. I don't
have enough words to thank all the guys who have contributed to this
incredible achievement, which shows that Italy is a nation whose passion
and talent can succeed in a hugely technically advanced field. It's
certainly a good reason for Italians to be proud - proud about the
talent of our engineers and about the quality of our universities. It is
also a sign that allows Italy to look to the future and into
globalization with a pinch more optimism."
