Casey Stoner, 2007 MotoGP World Champion

Casey Stoner was always earmarked out for greatness when he made his debut as a wildcard at Donington Park in 2001. Having been drafted into the same academy system which has seen the likes of Dani Pedrosa and Toni Elias rise through the MotoGP ranks, Stoner took full advantage of his family’s bold move to Europe to build on a promising national dirt-track career.

Beginning a permanent Grand Prix career in the 250cc class under the guidance of Lucio Cecchinello, it was when he dropped down to the 125s the following season that the motorcycling world began to take notice, as he took four podiums and a win at the final round. In 2004 he battled for the 125 championship with KTM, taking their first ever Grand Prix victory and finishing fifth overall.

A return to the LCR team and the 250 class in 2005 saw him battle his old stablemate Pedrosa for the 250cc title, winning five races on the Aprilia, before he continued with LCR for his and the team’s rookie season in MotoGP on board a Honda.

His rookie year in 2006 saw flashes of brilliance mixed with a few disappointing crashes, but stand-out moments included pole position in just his second race at Qatar followed by a battle to the line with Marco Melandri in Turkey where he was just pipped into second place. His performances saw the Ducati factory come knocking at the door, and since the end of 2006 his career has gone into overdrive.

A maiden MotoGP victory the first race of 2007 at Qatar was a self-confessed surprise for both rider and team, but once he followed this up with wins at Turkey and China, it was clear the Stoner juggernaut was rolling towards a title tilt. His standout performance at Catalunya, where he battled toe-to-toe with five-time champion Valentino Rossi will go down as one of the great races in history, whilst he dominated the mid-season with pole-to-flag victories at three consecutive races at Laguna Seca, Brno and Misano.He has been the dominant force in MotoGP this season, the only rider to score points in every round, and with four rounds still to go he seals the title with a total of 297 points, 8 wins and 11 podiums, including 5 pole positions.

Birth date: 16/10/1985 (21 years)
Birth place: Southport, AUS
First Grand Prix: GBR – 2001 - 125cc
First Pole Position: ITA – 2003 - 125cc
First Podium: GER – 2003 - 125cc
First GP Victory: VAL – 2003 - 125cc
Grand Prix Starts: 92
Grand Prix Victories: 15
Podiums: 32
Pole Positions: 10
Race Fastest Lap: 9
World Championship Win: 1 - 2007 - MotoGP
Total Points 2006: 297

MotoGP Career
2001: 125cc World Championship - 29th position on a Honda, 2 starts, 4 points
2002: 250cc World Championship – 12th position on an Aprilia, 5 starts, 68 points
2003: 125cc World Championship – 8th position on an Aprilia, 14 starts, 125 points, 1 win
2004: 125cc World Championship - 5th position on a KTM, 14 starts, 145 points, 1 win
2005: 250cc World Championship – 2nd position on an Aprilia, 16 starts, 254 points, 5 wins
2006: MotoGP World Championship – 7th position on a Honda, 16 starts, 119 points
2007: MotoGP World Championship – 1st position on a Ducati, 15 starts, 297 points, 8 wins

Some Facts About Stoner's Achievement
- At the age of 21 years and 342 days, Stoner becomes the second youngest rider to win the premier-class title in the 59-year history of world championship Grand Prix racing.
- He is only the fifth rider in history to win eight or more premier-class races in a single season along with motorcycling greats Giacomo Agostini, Mike Hailwood, Mick Doohan and Valentino Rossi.
- He wins a first MotoGP riders’ title for Ducati and it is also the first time a European manufacturer has won the title since Phil Read on an MV Agusta in1974.
- Stoner is the third Australian to win the MotoGP title, after MotoGP Legends Mick Doohan and Wayne Gardner.

http://www.speedtv.com/articles/motogp/moto/40496/