Recovering Jorge Lorenzo praises new champ Casey Stoner

 Jorge Lorenzo has praised new MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner as he begins the recovery from a nasty left hand injury that will rule him out of this weekend’s Sepang race in Malaysia.

Lorenzo’s slim world title hopes vanished after a warm-up crash in Phillip Island saw him lose the tip of the ring finger on his left hand, which required plastic surgery in a private Melbourne Hospital on Sunday night.

Surgeons managed to save the feeling in Lorenzo’s ring finger after initial concerns that he would lose the use of the digit because of tendon and nerve damage.

With the operation declared a success, Lorenzo is now hoping to be fit for the final race of the season in Valencia next month, though he also suffered damaged to the middle finger on his left hand and remains doubtful for the November 6 clash.

Aussie Stoner won his home race for the fifth successive season to clinch his first world title since 2007. He only needed to finish sixth with Lorenzo absent but he dominated the 27-lap race to claim a ninth win of the season to hand Honda its title in the 800cc era.

Lorenzo heaped praise on his title successor and he said: “Casey has had an incredible season with very few mistakes. He has always been very strong and consistent so it has been very difficult to beat him. Congratulations to him, he has been the best this year and deserves his second title, a huge achievement as it comes with a different manufacturer. I would have liked to fight until the end, maybe until Valencia but the accident on Sunday has made it impossible.

“I am very proud of my team for all the hard work they have put in to take second in the Championship. Now we have to think about next year and work as hard as possible to win again. After the crash I was very worried that I would not have full feeling in my finger again. After the excellent treatment I received I have been assured I will have complete feeling in nerves and tendons. This gives me good confidence; I can’t wait to get back on my M1 again.”