After securing pole on Saturday and breaking the track record during qualifying, Stoner flew out of the blocks at the start of the race on Sunday and put more than two seconds between himself and the rest of the field early.
Stoner maintained his lead for much of the race until rival championship contender, Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo, made a bold passing attempt with six laps to go. Stoner's problems were compounded by tyre issues that resulted in his race pace dropping away significantly. He was passed by teammate Andrew Doviziosa on the last lap and had to settle for third.
The race result lifted Lorenzo to 133 championship points, 19 behind Stoner on 152.
Riders now travel to Sachsenring, Germany on 17 July for the German Moto GP.
RACE RESULT
1. Jorge Lorenzo (ESP-Yamaha) 41min 50.089sec
2. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA-Honda) 41:51.086
3. Casey Stoner (AUS-Honda) 41:51.232
4. Ben Spies (USA-Yamaha) 41:59.069
5. Marco Simoncelli (ITA-Honda) 41:59.165
6. Valentino Rossi (ITA-Ducati) 42:16.539
7. Hector Barbera (ESP-Ducati) 42:18.834
8. Dani Pedrosa (ESP-Honda) 42:22.132
9. Colin Edwards (USA-Yamaha) 42:23.510
10. Nicky Hayden (USA-Ducati) 42:24.813
11. Hiroshi Aoyama (JPN-Honda) 42:27.448
12. Karel Abraham (CZE-Ducati) 42:34.053
13. Alvaro Bautista (ESP-Suzuki) 42:37.743
14. Randy de Puniet (FRA-Ducati) 42:38.929
15. Toni Elias (ESP-Honda) 43:05.288
16. Cal Crutchlow (GBR-Yamaha) DNF
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
1. Casey Stoner (AUS) 136
2. Jorge Lorenzo (ESP) 108
3. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) 99
4. Valentino Rossi (ITA) 81
5. Nicky Hayden (USA) 71
6. Dani Pedrosa (ESP) 61
7. Ben Spies (USA) 61
8. Hiroshi Aoyama (JPN) 51
9. Colin Edwards (USA) 46
10. Marco Simoncelli (ITA) 39
11. Hector Barbera (ESP) 35
12. Toni Elias (ESP) 34
13. Karel Abraham (CZE) 33
14. Cal Crutchlow (GBR) 32
15. Alvaro Bautista (ESP) 27
16. Loris Capirossi (ITA) 22
17. Randy de Puniet (FRA) 10
18. John Hopkins (USA) 6
19. Kousuke Akiyoshi (JPN) 3
Andrew Foran is a sports enthusiast and works in the corporate sphere in Melbourne.