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Australia’s defending world champion Casey Stoner is already looking ahead to next year after his title hopes faded with a crash in Italy’s San Marino Grand Prix.
Ducati rider Stoner crashed while leading on lap six as his Italian rival Valentino Rossi claimed a crucial victory at Misano.
Rossi leads the standings on 262 points ahead of second-placed Stoner on 187.
Five races remain, with 25 points awarded for a win.
Stoner, who was riding despite a painful hand injury, said he would battle on and have an operation at the end of the season.
“It is very disappointing for the weekend to end like this after showing such a high level of performance in practice,” said Stoner, who was pole-sitter.
“Basically we took the decision to put one lap on the race tyre in warm-up this morning to get it scrubbed in.
“We’ve done it before and not had a problem but today I could feel from the first lap that the grip wasn’t right.
“After a few laps it started to feel better and I was gaining confidence but it let go.
“It’s a real shame but, anyway, we tried hard here and once again I think we’ve shown we are very fast, we have a great bike and tyres that work fantastically.
“This gives me confidence for next year and I’m looking forward to it already.
“As for the injury, it’s a huge disappointment this problem came out but I’ll have to wait until the end of the season for an operation.”
Seven-time world champion Rossi won the 28-lap contest ahead of Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo and Ducati rider Toni Elias, as Spaniards filled the two minor placings.
The victory allowed Rossi to equal fellow Italian Giacomo Agostini’s record of 68 victories in the top motorcycling category.
“I’m really disappointed for Casey but it is important that we stay together as a team at a moment like this,” Ducati general director Filippo Preziosi said today.
“We leave here knowing that we have a competitive bike, a good team and a truly great rider.”
Rossi said Agostini had wished him well ahead of the race.
“These last few days I saw that Agostini was a little unhappy,” Rossi said.
“Today though I saw him smile. He came to greet me, wished me well and I won.
“We have a 75-point lead which means that up to now we’ve been very strong, we’ve never let up, and more than everything we’ve kept our heads held high even during difficulties,” said Rossi, who has finished runner-up in the past two seasons.
“This year I told myself that to beat Stoner we needed the best Valentino. I tried to bring him out.
“Although you’re never sure to find him, I think I’ve found him and I’m happy.”
Stoner is two points ahead of Spain’s Dani Pedrosa after the Honda rider finished fourth today.
“Stoney was flying, then I got back up to my (starting) place, I saw him fall and then things went well for me,” Rossi said.
Australia’s Suzuki rider Chris Vermeulen finished fifth and lies sixth in the standings on 110 points.
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