Casey Stoner leads the Moto GP drivers championship and, with his tenth pole for the season, could all but close out the season with a win in today’s Japanese Moto GP. Stoner finished the qualifying round over a quarter of second faster than reigning world champion Jorge Lorenzo with another half second back to teammate Andrea Dovizioso. Stoner has a good record at this track including a win in last years Moto GP.

In Moto GP betting, bookmakers have Stoner at 4/6 ahead of Lorenzo at 4/1. Dani Pedrosa will start from 4 on the grid and is at 5/1 from Andrea Dovizioso at 20/1. American Ben Spies riding a Yamaha is on the second row and at 40/1 is well worth an each way bet for a podium finish. Dovizioso is also worth consideration given Honda’s history at this track.

The Japanese Moto GP is raced on the Twin Ring Motegi track, which just happens to be the home track for Honda. Stoner and Dovizioso know this track well, especially the changes that have been made following last years earthquake. The new surface is certainly agreeing with the Honda bikes and their tyre choices with both Honda riders praising the new track.

In Moto GP World Championship outrights, you can almost put away your wallet. Casey Stoner is out to 1/12 in the betting, and should he win today’s Moto GP, you can expect those odds to firm even further. Jorge Lorenzo is the only other rider in serious contention and bookmakers have him a drifting 9/1. He would need to win today, and for Stoner to fail to finish to really have any chance of retaining his world champion title. Bookmakers are still taking bets on Dani Pedrosa, however, as his odds of 300/1 suggests, he would need a miracle – in fact, he would need to win the next couple of races while those ahead of him failed to score any points at all. It has happened in the past, where two leading riders have crashed out and not been able to complete the season through injury. We’re tipping Stoner to win today, and to take the title – there’s just no fancy odds.