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Race report

Stoner signs off in Valencia with a podium for his final race

Last ever GP race sees Stoner in third

Podium: third place Casey Stoner, Repsol Honda Team
Podium: third place Casey Stoner, Repsol Honda Team

Photo by: Repsol Media

2011 World Champion Casey Stoner completed the final GP of his career and took third place, his tenth podium of the year.

Stoner chose to remain on the wet tyre for the start but came in to the pit lane for the slick tyre bike on lap 4. The Australian was very cautious at the beginning but gradually caught up and passed the majority of the field and took third place with two laps to go, celebrating a podium in his last race. Stoner finishes the championship in third position, a place that he already secured with his win in Australia.

Casey Stoner

"Considering everything that happened today, we're very happy with a podium. My motivation wasn't particularly high today as I haven't wanted to push in the wet and haven't felt comfortable on the bike. I just didn't want to take any risks of crashing and damaging my ankle again so I was very cautious and this isn't how I like to ride. Even with the choice of going with the wets, not the slick tyres at the beginning of the race, I took the easy option, which really isn't me. When I saw the slicks had a big advantage, we came in and changed bikes and went back out and pushed as hard as we could, without taking unnecessary risks. In the end we were able to chase down Álvaro and take the last spot on the podium in our last race. My team are like my second family, we've been through a lot of ups and downs together and it's going to be difficult not to see them every week. I'm sorry for them and for everyone who has supported me for so long but this is the way it is and it's time to say goodbye. Thank you to all the people who have supported us over the years and all our sponsors, and to everyone in the Repsol Honda Team.”

Repsol Honda Team

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