After claiming his place in
MotoGP history, a relieved Stoner was congratulated by both outgoing champion
Nicky Hayden and 2001-2005 champion Rossi, before carrying a huge Australian flag back to the pits - where he was mobbed by an erupting Ducati team, ready with 'world champion' winning t-shits. After the podium ceremony, Stoner and his crew were quite rightly allowed onto the rostrum to celebrate their triumph, claimed at the home circuit of rivals Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki and Suzuki.
Indeed, Ducati is the first non-Japanese manufacturer to win the premier-class crown since Phil Read handed another Italian factory, MV Agusta, its final 500cc World Championship in 1974. Stoner is the second youngest world champion after Freddie Spencer in 1983, while
Bridgestone's first MotoGP World Championship ends Michelin's 14-year reign.
Stoner's former 250cc rival and fellow 21-year-old, Pedrosa, a pre-season title favourite, had a much worse day - suffering a vicious highside out of the final turn, while on worn wet tyres, on lap 15.
Stoner will now take his first world championship home to Phillip Island in Australia, on October 14.
Japanese Grand Prix:
1. Capirossi
2. de Puniet
3. Elias
4. Guintoli
5. Melandri
6. Stoner
7. West
8. Barros
9. Hayden
10. Hopkins
11. Vermeulen
12. Tamada
13. Rossi
14. Edwards
15. Ito
16. Nakano
17. Yanagawa
18. Checa
