Due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, MotoGP hasn’t raced at Australia’s Phillip Island Circuit since 2019. That’s not only a shame for the riders but also unfortunate for race fans. The rider-favorite track has hosted some of the most memorable battles in MotoGP history. From Rossi and Gibernau’s showdown in 2004 to the four-way battle royale in 2015 to Marquez and Vinales’ scrap in 2019, Phillip Island only elevates the Grand Prix spectacle.
Despite that high level of competition, one man seemed to rise above the rest—Casey Stoner. The Aussie’s first crack at Phillip Island on a MotoGP bike resulted in a sixth-place finish. That wasn’t the case thereafter. Joining the Ducati Factory team in 2007, Stoner stormed to victory with a 6.7-second cushion. He repeated that performance in 2008, beating Valentino Rossi to the line by 6.5 seconds.
