Ducati's Casey Stoner made it back-to-back MotoGP wins with victory in the Grand Prix of Japan at Motegi.

Stoner started the race third on the grid but was leading the way the end of the first lap, putting pole-sitter Andrea Dovizioso and second-placed Valentino Rossi in the shade.

Dovizioso and Rossi came in second and third respectively but could not live with Stoner's consistency over 24 laps and the Australian triumphed by 3.868seconds.

Honda rider Dovizioso, who scored his first premier class pole in qualifying, held firm behind Stoner but Rossi was engaged in a thrilling battle for the final podium place with Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo.

The championship leader eventually lost out to the reigning championship, his third finish outside the top three in a row.

Lorenzo's lead at the top of the championship is now 69 points, ahead of the absent Dani Pedrosa, with Stoner third, and Dovizioso moving beyond Rossi in fourth.