It will be a big day for Stoner when he starts on the LCR Honda and he's joined by another Australian:
Chris Vermeulen knows Phillip Island well from his World Superbike days and returns on the Rizla Suzuki, after making his
MotoGP debut with Camel Yamaha one year ago.
Kenny Roberts will be looking to improve on his seventh place in the championship for his father's the Oxfordshire-based team, while Kawasaki's
Shinya Nakano and Melandri's team-mate Tony Elias will be looking to bounce back after crashing out in Sepang.
19-year-old Spaniard
Jorge Lorenzo increased his 250cc championship lead to 12 points after his seventh win of the season in Malaysia. His nearest challenger
Andrea Dovizioso won the 125 race at Phillip Island two years but the Italian knows he must start beating the Fortuna Aprilia rider if he's going to add the 250cc title to his list.
21-year-old Spaniard Alvaro Bautista needs to finish in front of Mika Kallio on Sunday to clinch the 125cc World title. He won his sixth grand prix of the season in Malaysia riding the Master MVA Aspar Aprilia to open up a 74 point advantage over the KTM of Kallio.
