MOTOGP ARRIVES AT "THE ISLAND" FOR AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX

Beautiful weather greeted the MotoGP travelling circus as the World
Championship riders and their teams reconvened at Australia's iconic Phillip
Island circuit on Thursday.

Up there with the very best circuits on the MotoGP calendar in terms of
natural beauty and its popularity with the Grand Prix fraternity, the Aussie
venue promises to produce another spectacular weekend of MotoGP action
despite the possible rain forecast for Friday and Saturday, a feature of so
many GPs this year.

After the laid-back build-up to this weekend's action, the more serious
business of the pre-event press conference saw last year's race-winner and
title-winner Casey Stoner joined by fellow Australians Chris Vermeulen and
Anthony West, in addition to newly crowned 2008 MotoGP World Champion
Valentino Rossi and 2007 championship runner-up Dani Pedrosa.

After his enthralling title-clinching victory at Motegi on Sunday, Rossi
will attempt to maintain the high spirits as he looks to fend off the
challenges from Stoner and Pedrosa on-track as the weekend progresses.

The Italian six-time MotoGP title-winner commented, 'I had a nice
celebration in Japan with my friends and the fan-club from Tavullia, but on
Monday our test with the new Yamaha M1 for 2009 was cancelled due to rain so
now we have to wait until after Valencia to try it. Phillip Island is on the
very top level as a track, with places like Mugello and Barcelona, so I want
to enjoy myself this weekend and close the season well in the last three
races.'

Local favourite Stoner added, 'Driving into the circuit this morning it
brought back a lot of good memories and it is really nice to be riding at
home. In terms of my chances I think the wrist is ok, but we need to work
hard to set the bike up properly before Sunday, so that I don't get tired
during the race like I did last weekend.'

Earlier in the day Thursday's preliminary activities commenced at 10am at
the nearby Penguin Parade, with Suzuki star Vermeulen releasing a penguin
that had been recovering from illness in the Phillip Island Wildlife
Hospital back into the wild.

At midday the wildlife theme continued on neighbouring Churchill Island when
a group of riders including Andrea Dovizioso, Mika Kallio, Marco Simoncelli,
Mike di Meglio and Simone Corsi learned some farming skills with a Kelpie
dog and the local farm manager, before meeting a baby lamb.

The on-track activity gets underway with the normal 125cc free practice
session at 9am tomorrow, followed by the opening MotoGP run at 10am and
250cc 11.15am.