Features 25 Mar 2014

Rewind: Casey Stoner's last 125GP win in 2004

Following Jack Miller's Moto3 triumph, we turn the clock back 10 years.

Keeping in line with celebrations surrounding Jack Miller’s breakthrough Qatar Moto3 win, today we Rewind to 2004 and the weekend that saw Casey Stoner take Australia’s last win in the then 125cc Grand Prix class.

The setting was Sepang, and a particularly hot and steamy Sunday where riders had to manage 35-degree temperatures as they battled it out in the third-tier grand prix class.

For Stoner, just 18 years of age and aboard a Red Bull KTM, it was a particularly significant race. Mechanical failures had halted his charge on the past three outings, with DNFs in Portugal, Japan and Qatar only adding to earlier disappointments.

Sepang would be a pivotal test for the KTM, and a good springboard for Stoner who was eager to lead into his home grand prix at Phillip Island with some positive results on his side.

“We were pretty quick in warm-up but we had a lot of problems with grip,” Stoner said pre-race. “I’m a little bit nervous and wary, but we’ll just have to see if we can finish this one.”

Source: KTM.

Source: KTM.

From a grid position of third he made a tardy start, slipping back to sixth as the field sliced and diced for track position. Hector Barbera led early, with Stoner able to make back ground and settle right into the lead pack on the opening lap.

It look little time for Stoner to make his move, taking advantage of the misfortune of a crashing Barbera to range up on and pass world champion-elect Andrea Dovizioso.

Dovizioso had mixed objectives for the race, needing a safe finish rather than a risky win. It suited Stoner who hauled the pair forward, soon breaking away from their pursuers who were waging a war of their own for the top five places.

The KTM and Honda set the pace out front, lapping two seconds quicker than the trailing pack. Dovizioso exercised restraint as Stoner contained the pace, preferring to sit behind the Aussie rather than risk a crash, a fate his teammate had met on the opening lap.

As the final few laps approached the lead pairing re-engaged, with Dovizioso applying pressure in the hope of forcing a mistake.

Stoner didn’t falter, and neither did the bike beneath him, with the Aussie taking just his second ever grand prix win by a close 0.029-second margin.

While the championship was Dovizioso’s the moment belonged to the Australian. Relief, as much as elation, were evident following his exemplary performance which significantly handed KTM it’s first ever win in grand prix racing.

Source: KTM.

Source: KTM.

“Finally, that’s all I can say,” said Stoner. “We should have done it so many times this year, we’ve just lucked out. I’m finally here.

“I sort of expected at least to win one. I’ve gone through a bit of bad luck. We’ve had some good races but just lately I haven’t been able to even finish one, it’s just great to be back again.”

He revealed his change in pace was a strategy to combat the looming Honda, and was happy it paid dividends in the end.

“Towards the end I didn’t quite feel like I had as good grip or power, so I backed off a few laps before to maybe give him a false sense,” he admitted. “The bike felt pretty good so I tried again and did a couple of okay laps just to keep him struggling to pass me, so everything worked out eventually.”

His win in Malaysia would pave the way for a move to the 250cc ranks the following year, only a brief interlude before graduating to his famously sucessful seven-season career in MotoGP where he would claim the premier class title twice.

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