JOIN USThe 24-year-old Spaniard was rushed to a Melbourne hospital for emergency plastic surgery after a finger on his left hand was severely injured in a crash during practice before the race at Phillip Island.
The injury ruled Lorenzo out of the race and ensured Stoner would only need a top-six finish to clinch the title, but the Australian had little intention of coasting to the line, eventually crossing more than two seconds in front of team-mate Marco Simoncelli.
Stoner, who coolly closed out victory as gusty winds and late showers played havoc with riders' concentration, had mixed feelings about his second world title after winning the first with Ducati in 2007.
"It's not the way I wanted to win the championship but at the same time we felt we had the momentum, we had the best chance of winning the championship out of anyone," Stoner told reporters.
"If it didn't happen here, I do believe it would have happened in Malaysia," he added, referring to the second-last stop in Sepang next week.
Mahindra impress
Mahindra Racing’s riders, Danny Webb and Marcel Schrotter, recorded the debutant team’s best ever double points result of the season in the 125cc Australian Grand Prix on Sunday, reports PTI from Phillip Island, Australia.
The pair finished tenth and 11th respectively in difficult conditions, which ultimately brought the race to a premature end.