Aussie on top at the new Aragon circuit | Thebigtip

Leading the field from lights to flag, Stoner re-instated the resounding dominance over his sport that has been blighted in recent months by poor form and that mystery energy-sapping illness that saw him sidelined for some of 2009. His only real trouble throughout the inaugural Aragon Grand Prix was Spaniard Dani Pedrosa, who hustled him almost constantly for the entire duration of the race. Banging in a series of stellar laps near the end was enough for the 24-year-old Australian, and he brought home the field with a lead of just over five seconds. The occasion was also extremely special for Ducati, marking their first victory of the season so far.

Jorge Lorenzo posed an early threat for a split second or two, looking for all the world like he might muscle straight past Stoner as the race got under way. He slipped briefly into the lead in the second corner, but it wasn’t to last long for the eager Mallorcan. Stoner snatched the coveted position back in seconds, and the champion-elect had to settle for a rather lowly (by his immaculate standards) fourth-placed finish.

Yes. You read that correctly. It was America’s Nicky Hayden, riding the second scarlet Ducati, who made the manoeuvre of the race, blasting wholeheartedly past Lorenzo on the final lap. You couldn’t have made it up, and you can imagine the choice phrases that the champion-elect was muttering behind his visor. There will be some serious self-kicking going on tonight in the Fiat Yamaha camp – who wants to drop a podium place for a guy who’s been an also-ran since bagging one championship many moons ago?

But still, it’s not Nicky Hayden that Jorge should be worrying about – it’s his countryman, surly Dani, who is the only other rider on the MotoGP grid who can pull the championship rug from out under his feet and send him sprawling across the tarmac. Lorenzo still has the upper hand, with an outstanding track record (this being his only non-podium finish of the season), and a tally of 284 world championship points. However, Repsol Honda boy Pedrosa is catching him rapidly on 228, and the pressure’s on Lorenzo not to make even the slightest howler. He’s got five rounds to hold on to his lead: but Pedrosa will be going all-out to wrestle the 2010 crown from his steely grip.     

Luckless Randy de Puniet crashed out with seven laps to go, and Andrea Dovizioso suffered similar misfortune when he dropped his bike while holding on for sixth place. Both were uninjured.

Reigning champ Valentino Rossi took the discarded sixth place, but it’s safe to say that he’s well and truly surrendered his 2009 world title now. The question is, who’s going to take it from him?