There had been nothing to choose between the pair until Stoner rode into the gravel with eight laps remaining, and although he managed to get back into the race, the Australian could not claw back the gap.

However, the two riders had built up such a lead that the Ducati of Stoner was still able to finish ahead of Chris Vermeulen, with Britain's James Toseland back in ninth place.

Rossi, who now leads Stoner by 25 points in the standings, told BBC Sport: "It was a great weekend."