Casey Stoner trumped Valentiono Rossi yet again, as the 2008 MotoGP season kicked off in Qatar. While the 22-year-old Australian picked up where he left off last season — miles ahead of the rest of the field — ‘The Doctor’ is starting to show signs of wane.

At 29, Rossi is hardly over the hill. But as this writer attests, approaching the big Three-Oh is no laughing matter, especially in the world of competitive sport, where bodies endure blow after battering blow, day in and out.

Starting at 4th position, on the second row of the grid, the Fiat Yamaha superstar enjoyed a comfortable start. In contrast, 2007 MotoGP champion Stoner on his Marlboro Ducati languished one row behind, and was shut out of the leading pack from the green light. As Rossi picked off the racers in front of him and revved into the lead early on, Stoner was nowhere to be seen.

Perhaps 2008 would be a great season after all, I thought. Forget journalistic objectivity, my heart roots for #46. And how I cheered, when Rossi rewrote the Qatar circuit lap record set by Stoner last season.

Then disaster struck. No, there was no dramatic crash, engine failure nor tyre blowout. But that is the bigger disaster — that Casey Stoner is indeed the better rider, and virtually unstoppable.

Methodically, the big red machine bearing the proud #1 bore down on the leading pack of Rossi, Dani Pedrosa and MotoGP debutants Jorge Lorenzo, Andrea Dovizioso and James Toseland. One by one, the Ducati bullied into submission. Lorenzo did remarkably well to keep Stoner at bay for a couple of laps, but the moment the man from Down Under pushed past Rossi’s Yamaha teammate, I knew it was over.

Rossi versus Stoner, head to head. The legendary Italian with more podium finishes than anyone else in the history of motorbike racing against the young upstart and reigning MotoGP champion, mano a mano. And Rossi blinked.

Young Casey came out of the corner just ahead, and the great big Ducati between his legs took over from there. Rossi’s Yamaha M1 never looked like it was capable of keeping up once Stoner got into the lead.

But there was more salt to be added to the injury. 20-year-old Jorge Lorenzo swept past his flagging teammate and took it upon himself to be the man to chase Stoner. When Stoner beat Rossi for pace, I attributed it to the overwhelming power of the Italian-built machine against the Yamaha. But when Lorenzo, riding the same Japanese model, too left Rossi standing still, my heart broke. Granted, the 2 Yamahas were running on different tyre makes, but it was ‘The Doctor’ himself who had lobbied for the change. And he was reportedly happier with the new tyres! There was no reasonable excuses left for Rossi.

As Stoner surged further forward, setting new circuit records lap after lap, Rossi seemed to be stuck in reverse gear, and was passed by Spaniard Pedrosa without much of a fight.

Even then, I was hopeful of a Rossi comeback. Maybe he’s waiting, bidding his time. Maybe the Ducati will blow a tyre, a piston, a gearbox, or something. A mechanical glitch did look like the only way anyone was going to catch Stoner.

But when MotoGP newbie Dovizioso showed immense guile and maturity to out-manoeuvre Rossi and push him further down the pack into fifth place, all hope crumbled.

My girlfriend threw her hands into the air and declared that she was not going to watch another second of the race.

Indeed, it was a horror story; almost too painful to watch.

I stared blankly at the screen as Valentino Rossi dwindled and languished in an abysmal 5th place finish. #46 will continue to be the number I root for, and Rossi will be the name on my lips as we look forward to the Spanish GP on March 30.

But Stoner’s indomitable performance at Qatar proves that he is, indeed, worthy to carry the #1 tag and be recognised as the new world champion.

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