In today’s Rewind we look back upon the eve of the 2012 AirAsia Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix where outgoing local champion Casey Stoner was honoured with a corner in his name.

Last weekend, Spanish hero Jorge Lorenzo was bestowed a similar honour, with the unveiling of the final corner at Jerez in his name. In a twist of cruel irony, it would be the site of a controversial pass by Marc Marquez, one that displaced Lorenzo from second to third in the grand prix, and saw him lose the championship points lead.

The many thousands of fans that flocked to the Island to farewell Stoner saw their local hero fare much better as he rode to a convincing sixth home victory despite a recent ankle injury which would cost him a shot at the title.

Stoner was able to choose the corner himself, immediately nominating the fifth-gear, 250 kilometre per hour turn three.

“Turn three is probably my favourite one in the world. I am almost flat out in fifth gear through there and that is pretty damn fast and it really gets your blood flowing that’s for sure,” said Stoner.

“It always gives me a great rush going through there so to have a corner named after me at Phillip Island is something quite special. It is a great privilege.

“The Island was designed 60 years ago before computers. It follows the flow of the countryside. It is a classic track and beyond anything else we race on. The high speed corners get your heart racing and there are a lot of corners you can slide through.”

Stoner joined two fellow motorcycle racing heroes in receiving a section of the iconic Phillip Island circuit named after him – Wayne Gardner, with Gardner Straight, and Mick Doohan, who was gifted Doohan Corner.

Read our original news story with further thoughts from Stoner and circuit representatives Andrew Fox and Fergus Cameron.

Casey Stoner’s family joined him at the official presentation ceremony.