In just his third MotoGP race, LCR Honda rider Casey Stoner finished a brilliant second to a claim a podium place in today’s Turkish Grand Prix. After a breathtaking battle against fellow Honda rider Marco Melandri over the final five laps Stoner finished just 0.2s behind the Italian rider. Stoner started from seventh on the grid and was always racing in the lead group against early leader Chris Vermeulen and then Sete Gibernau, Nicky Hayden, Dani Pedrosa and Melandri.

Stoner took the lead on lap 18 of 22 and looked set to record an historic victory until Melandri made his move under brakes on the entry to final, triple-corner complex before the finish line. Stoner’s first podium comes just three weeks after he stunned his MotoGP rivals with pole position at the Qatar Grand Prix. Stoner is fourth in the points with 41, just 11 behind championship leader Nicky Hayden.

“It’s a wonderful day for Casey and the team because this is only our third race in MotoGP and the potential Casey showed today is even more than anyone would have expected. He finished second but for us it is like a win and on the final lap Marco Melandri was very hard and took the victory -- but Casey was fantastic today.”

“That was more like a125 race and this result is a great feeling because I have proved to myself and everyone else that I can race up front in MotoGP. I feel have answered some of my critics today. I was expecting Marco to try and pass at the end of the straight because wasn’t that confident at that point, I had crashed there a couple times over the weekend. I knew I could be on the podium and I didn’t want to risk the 20 points. My crew chief Ramon and the team did a great job, we work very well together and I have been getting amazing support from Honda and Michelin.”