Casey Stoner topped the podium for the sixth time this season after winning in Sunday's MotoGP season finale in Valencia.

The championship runner-up saw off the challenge of home favourite Dani Pedrosa, who pestered the Australian rider during the early stages of the race but was over three seconds behind at the line in second place.

Stoner's win also secured second place in the constructors' championship for Ducati, after the riders', teams' and constructors' titles had already been claimed by Valentino Rossi, Fiat Yamaha and Yamaha respectively long before the Valencia race.

For his part, world champion Rossi managed his 16th podium finish in 18 races after fighting his way through the pack from 10th on the grid.

The Italian has not had the best of records on this track in recent years but on Sunday he was in fine form, moving up to seventh place by the end of the first lap and winding his way up to third by lap six.

He was unable to launch an assault on the front duo, however, ending the race 8.8secs behind Pedrosa but 11.9secs ahead of another Italian, Andrea Dovizioso, in fourth.

Third on the grid and the fastest rider in practice Nicky Hayden fell back to finish in fifth in his final race with Honda before his move to Ducati, followed by fellow American Colin Edwards in sixth and Japan's Shinya Nakano in seventh.

Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo was named 'rookie of the year' after finishing eighth on the day and fourth in the overall standings.

Britain's James Toseland finished in 11th despite starting the race from fifth on the grid.