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2007-09-23 Capirossi wins race, Casey Stoner 2007 MotoGP champion
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 Win in Motegi for a third time in succesion goes to Ducati, with Kawasaki and Honda finishing second and third on Japanese soil. First wave of surprise goes for Kawasaki - it is been a long time since they finished on a podium. Second wave of surprise goes to riders. It was Loris Capirossi who took third consecutive victory for Ducati in wet-dry race, after making perfectly timed bike switch. Randy de Puniet took first podium of MotoGP career despite having few off-track excursions. Toni Elias continued improving form after injury by taking third place for Honda. However, most celebrated was 6th place of Casey Stoner, who finally took 2007 MotoGP title, finishing in front of only man who could prevent it, Valentino Rossi.
Race started on a wet track, but without rain, which caused a track to dry-out as race progressed, making bike-switch crucial for race outcome. It was Dani Pedrosa who started like a rocket from the start, leading early in the race. He was followed by jump-starting Anthony West, who briefly took first place before going for a ride-through penalty. Casey Stoner had excellent start and soon he was in third. Valentino Rossi was third in firs corner, but soon he started dropping places, looking like being in real trouble.
Initial break made by Pedrosa was just temporary, as he soon had to give first place to West, and then Stoner. Meanwhile, Rossi managed to find good rhythm and started overtaking riders in front. Another rider on the pace was Marco Melandri, who charged his way from 9th on the grid, soon getting into the lead in front of Stoner. Meanwhile, Rossi got in front of Pedrosa and Stoner, chasing Melandri. On a drying track, Rossi overtook Melandri, who immediatelly entered pits to get a second bike - but too late, as Capirossi did that earlier. Rossi entered pits in next lap, but as he returned to the track, he had to re-enter pits, looking to the front tyre and head-shaking, showing that something was wrong with his bike. His crew take a quick look at M1, shaken things up and sent him back to the track, but this meaned end of hopes for high placement for Rossi.
In the mean time, just after Rossi entered pits, Dani Pedrosa had ugly-looking high-side, which ruled him out of race, with Dani limping his way to garage. Rossi has this way extended gap to Pedrosa for 2 points.
Loris Capirossi finished race in first place, finally taking victory in his last season with Ducati. Randy de Puniet managed not to crash - this time limiting himself to small off-track excursions, thus ending race in great 2nd place. Toni Elias completed podium in Motegi today, after managing to resist late-attack from best Yamaha rider in this race, Sylvain Guintoli. Guintoli deserved great 4th place, riding fantastic on Dunlop shoed Yamaha.
Marco Melandri had to settle for 5th place after great first-part performance, in front of new MotoGP World Champion - Casey Stoner in 6th. Anthony West still managed to get respectable 7th place, despite ride-through penalty. Alex Barros was 8th today. Nicky Hayden finished as best and only Michelin rider in top 10, with John Hopkins completing top 10 finishers in strange Motegi race today.
Championship title won by Casey Stoner today was first for Stoner, Ducati and Bridgestone - making everyone over the moon after fantastic result. With three races remaining, second place in championship remains unsolved - Rossi has 26 points advantage over Dani Pedrosa, but also being in theoretical reach of Hopkins, Vermeulen and Melandri. For remaining three races we may expect more fantastic racing, hoping that weather conditions won't spoil excitement of close racing, like it was case today. Congratulations to Casey Stoner, 2007 MotoGP World Champion!
Motegi - race results
2007 MotoGP championship standings
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