"Stoner: I could not ask for more!"

Casey Stoner concluded 2008 MotoGP World Championship and began with a victory after dominating the season on Sunday-ending Valencia Grand Prix - a result which also handed the second place at Ducati the constructors' championship world.

Starting from pole, Stoner initially lost the initiative Dani Pedrosa of Repsol Honda - but never allowed the Spanish to gain the breathing room you want to dive on the inside in turn two. 

Stoner steadily increased their advantage thereafter, winning by 3.39sec from Pedrosa after 30 laps, with 2008 world champion Valentino Rossi a distant third for Fiat Yamaha. 

"I could not ask for much more!" Casey smiled. "To end a difficult season in this way is a fantastic feeling and it is a good way to thank everyone at Ducati for their hard work. 

"Once again my crew got right, finding a good setup for the bike despite the limited time dry. To be honest I was very worried during qualifying yesterday because I did not have a good feeling at all, But by the time we put the softer tires on the bike already feels better and then the guys did a fantastic job and overnight in the warming up this morning to pave a little more of the problems. 

"This was the first time we have assembled in these conditions all weekend so it is still some question marks before the race, so to come out and set the pace as it was a nice feeling," said Stoner, who had already secured second in the riders' world championship over Pedrosa. 

Stoner sixth victory of the season, on a circuit where we celebrate the success of his debut in the 125cc category in 2003, was also the 150th for riders from Australia in the Grand Prix of all kinds and means that Ducati has won 17 of the 36 races since the start of the 800cc era.

"The victory of Casey is now a real gift to us because we finished second in the [construction] championship," said Ducati Corse technical director Filippo Preziosi. "I am also happy because after two days of testing here on Monday and Tuesday, Casey finally be able to have his operation in the knowledge that finished the season with a wonderful victory." 

Stoner delayed an operation to graft bone to fix the broken scaphoid on his left wrist, an old injury that has never healed until after the test in Valencia with a view to assessing the Ducati GP9. Stoner previously rode an early version of the bike, which has a carbon fiber chassis, during the post race test in Catalunya in June - and was faster than had been in this year's GP8. 

"I'm really excited to try the new bike tomorrow - is why we have had in riding," confirmed Stoner. "It felt good the last time I rode and I am sure that we have done better, and we hope that we can have a good first session and go home for the winter full of optimism about the upcoming season." 

Meanwhile, Marco Melandri brought the curtain down on his Ducati ill-fated career with a 16th position. The Italian mounted an impressive load at the height of the last 18 and a tenth, but a mistake with just three laps to go undid all his hard work. 



"Despite everything that was a fun race because I felt very comfortable on the bike and I was able to attack and spend a lot of pilots," said Melandri. "Since so ago was a handicap and I have lost contact with the group quickly that Lorenzo was in. But Lappen well with a decent pace. Unfortunately, near the end of the race I hit neutral instead of first gear and ran wide. I 'm disappointed, because I would have been nice to me and the team to finish well. At least this is a worthy career. " 

"I am pleased to Marco because despite not get the result at the end, which has fought hard, did a lot of passes and rode like he knows he can, in his last race with us," said Preziosi. 

Stoner joined his new team-mate Nicky Hayden on Monday, while Melandri will make his debut for Kawasaki.