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It was inevitable given Bridgestone's status - as of this year - as MotoGP's sole tyre suppliers, but their 50th premier class victory is a landmark moment for the Japanese tyre firm and has come as a result of several seasons of hard work. Victories over their competitors stretching back to 2004, when they got their first win with Makoto Tamada and Honda in Brazil, have led to Bridgestone's position as the single supplier trusted with providing MotoGP's teams with the highly competitive material which has produced such close and exciting racing this year. When Casey Stoner triumphed over Valentino Rossi by less than two seconds after a race-long battle at Phillip Island on Sunday both riders were using the softer front and rear Bridgestone slicks as they pushed each other to within 0.03 seconds of the circuit lap record, and mid-race the duo were separated by less than one tenth of a second. There has been widespread praise for Bridgestone throughout the paddock this year and they are set to rack up the victories as their partnership with MotoGP continues. Regarding the landmark, Hiroshi Yasukawa, Bridgestone Corporation's Director, stated, "I'd like to congratulate Casey and the Ducati team for their victory in Australia and for marking the 50th win on our tyres. It is apt that Casey took this win as it was he who took the first World Championship on our tyres in 2007." "We are proud to have achieved this milestone, and whilst this is the first of three years for us as the Official Tyre Supplier, it is important to note that almost three quarters of these victories came in the tyre competition era, and that it was our success and the performance of our tyres that saw us become the sole supplier. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Dorna and the FIM for their continued support, and wish each MotoGP team and rider the greatest success for the remainder of this season and beyond." Next is a chronology of each of the premier class 50 wins that have come since Bridgestone's entry into the sport in 2002: 1. Brazil, Jacarepagua, M. Tamada, Camel Honda, 2004
2. Japan, Motegi, M. Tamada, Camel Honda, 2004
3. Japan, Motegi, L. Capirossi, Ducati Team, 2005
4. Malaysia, Sepang, L. Capirossi, Ducati Team, 2005
5. Spain, Jerez, L. Capirossi, Ducati Team, 2006
6. Czech Republic, Brno, L. Capirossi, Ducati Team, 2006
7. Japan, Motegi, L. Capirossi, Ducati Team, 2006
8. Spain, Valencia, T. Bayliss, Ducati Team, 2006
9. Qatar, Losail, C. Stoner, Ducati Team, 2007
10. Turkey, Istanbul Park, C. Stoner, Ducati Team, 2007
11. China, Shanghai, C. Stoner, Ducati Team, 2007
12. France, Le Mans, C. Vermeulen, Rizla Suzuki, 2007
13. Spain, Catalunya, C. Stoner, Ducati Team, 2007
14. Great Britain, Donington, C. Stoner, Ducati Team, 2007
15. USA, Laguna Seca, C. Stoner, Ducati Team, 2007
16. Czech Republic, Brno, C. Stoner, Ducati Team, 2007
17. San Marino, Misano, C. Stoner, Ducati Team 2007
18. Japan, Motegi, L. Capirossi, Ducati Team, 2007
19. Australia, Phillip Island, C. Stoner, Ducati Team, 2007
20. Malaysia, Sepang, C. Stoner, Ducati Team, 2007
21. Qatar, Losail, C. Stoner, Ducati Team, 2008
22. China, Shanghai, V. Rossi, Yamaha, 2008
23. France, Le Mans, V. Rossi, Yamaha, 2008
24. Italy, Mugello, V. Rossi, Yamaha, 2008
25. Great Britain, Donington, C. Stoner, Ducati Team, 2008
26. Netherlands, Assen, C. Stoner, Ducati Team, 2008
27. Germany, Sachsenring, C. Stoner, Ducati Team, 2008
28. USA, Laguna Seca, V. Rossi, Fiat Yamaha, 2008
29. Czech Republic, Brno, V. Rossi, Fiat Yamaha, 2008
30. San Marino, Misano, V. Rossi, Fiat Yamaha, 2008
31. USA, Indianapolis, V. Rossi, Fiat Yamaha, 2008
32. Japan, Motegi, V. Rossi, Fiat Yamaha, 2008
33. Australia, Phillip Island, C. Stoner, Ducati Team, 2008
34. Malaysia, Sepang, V. Rossi, Fiat Yamaha, 2008
35. Spain, Valencia, C. Stoner, Ducati Team, 2008
36. Qatar GP, Losail, C. Stoner, Ducati Team, 2009
37. Japan, Motegi, J. Lorenzo, Fiat Yamaha, 2009
38. Spain, Jerez, V. Rossi, Fiat Yamaha, 2009
39. France, Le Mans, J. Lorenzo, Fiat Yamaha, 2009
40. Italy, Mugello, C. Stoner, Ducati Team, 2009
41. Spain, Catalunya, V. Rossi, Fiat Yamaha, 2009
42. Netherlands, Assen, V. Rossi, Fiat Yamaha, 2009
43. USA, Laguna Seca, D. Pedrosa, Repsol Honda, 2009
44. Germany, Sachsenring, V. Rossi, Fiat Yamaha, 2009
45. Great Britain, Donington, A. Dovizioso, Repsol Honda, 2009
46. Czech Republic, Brno, V. Rossi, Fiat Yamaha, 2009
47. USA, Indianapolis, J. Lorenzo, Fiat Yamaha, 2009
48. San Marino, Misano, V. Rossi, Fiat Yamaha, 2009
49. Portugal, Estoril, J. Lorenzo, Fiat Yamaha, 2009
50. Australia, Phillip Island, C. Stoner, Ducati Team, 2009
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