Record low Phillip Island MotoGP crowd missed Casey Stoner but still witnessed a great spectacle

AS Casey Stoner did his best to hose down comeback talk, a record low MotoGP crowd showed how much Phillip Island misses him.

CASEY Stoner did his best to hose down the comeback talk all weekend.

No - there was no desire to return. No - he does not watch races on television and wish he was out there.

Such questions are mandatory when a young man gives it all the way when still at the top of the game.

But the two-time world champion may have momentarily let his guard down during an on-camera interview before his lap of honour with Mick Doohan and Wayne Gardner yesterday.

Doohan joked the trio were the “filler” but Stoner said how much he would have loved the chance to punch out a few hot laps if only time allowed.

He should have made a call to the event organisers. It would have been agreed to in a heartbeat.

The smallest crowd in recent history showed up to witness Jorge Lorenzo win one of the most dramatic Aussie MotoGPs ever.

A lowly 31,500 people walked through the gates on Sunday, the lowest race-day attendance since the seaside circuit began regularly hosting the event in 1997.

It was well below last year's 53,100-strong crowd that watched Stoner claim his sixth consecutive victory at the track before retiring.

This, after all, is Stoner's island and always will be.

As long as he lives, the 28-year-old can always return to Phillip Island like an all-conquering hero.

That comes with the territory when you win at home six years in a row.

As much as he enjoyed waving to the crowd during his lap, Stoner gave off the feeling he was holding himself back.

The natural instinct was to put the head down and gun it.

He knows the track that well he could ride it blindfolded.

Surely the fire still burns in there somewhere.

And as soon as Stoner appeared, he was gone. Possibly forever.

There is no denying the event missed his presence and his ability to bring people through the gates.

Last year admittedly a “glory year” as Australian Grand Prix Corporation boss Andrew Westacott said prior to the event.

Organisers said they expected smaller crowds this year given Stoner's absence, but had been hopeful that the excitement of having a new winner for the first time in seven years and potentially new champion in Marc Marquez would be a big enough attraction.

A total of 77,200 people attended over the three days; only in 2001 was it lower when 75,870 went. But Westacott said he was happy with the outcome.

"Attendance was in line with what we had anticipated. We were expecting between 70-80,000 so we are happy with the result,'' he said.

"International television viewership was strong, especially given the very competitive nature of the championship.

"This only furthers Victoria's reputation for staging major events of international repute.''

Westacott said his team was constantly working to improve the event and attract new audiences.

"The future is bright for our young Aussie riders like Jack Miller (in Moto3) and the Gardner boys (sons of legend Wayne), we can expect to see much more from them.''

The show must go on  - and on it went yesterday minus an Aussie great to cheer on. The result?

A spectacular, drama-filled MotoGP that had fans gasping for breath.

Some spectators felt a little short-changed when it was announced the grand race would be reduced from 27 laps to 19 laps due to safety concerns.

The relayed surface – while great for grip – proved too hot for the tyres.

It resulted in an unprecedented order for riders to make a compulsory pit stop and change bikes during the race.

It was different and made for exciting viewing as riders scrambled to jump on their new machines.

Then there was the controversy when world championship leader Marc Marquez was black flagged for missing the pit-in window.

Any fans initially disappointed about the reduced distance left Phillip Island knowing they witnessed one of the most unbelievable MotoGP’s in recent memory.

As the race unfolded, Stoner watched from his old Honda garage.

Marquez is the rising star of the sport, but he could have done with some of Stoner’s traits on Sunday. Namely the ability to remain cool under pressure.