What Might Have Been….

Australian Casey Stoner used the final round at Valencia in Spain to demonstrate what might have been in season 2008. Crossing the line 3.39 seconds ahead of his Dani Pedrosa, Stoner showed no sign of his injured wrist, wrestling the Ducati’s front tyre high in the air at the finish of a race he dominated.

The man who unseated Stoner as champion, Valentino Rossi was a further nine seconds back from Pedrosa in third after a valiant charge from 10th.

On a track that Rossi has always performed on it was Stoner who stole the show early in the weekend, eventually scoring a demanding pole position, but it was Pedrosa who stole the start. The new liveried factory HRC Honda launched better than the Ducati off the line and it was Pedrosa who led the field through turn one. Stoner jumped back less than a quarter of a lap later, and was never headed over the remaining laps.

American Nicky Hayden was beaten out by his 2009 replacement at HRC Andrea Dovisioso in fourth, the 2006 champion just behind sixth placed compatriot Colin Edwards.

The 2008 season finished with an unusually processional race at Valencia, the only real action coming from the battle for 11th involving Toseland, Guintoli and Vermeulen.

The teams will stay in Valencia for a round of post season testing before a break over the European winter.