Who won Ducati's first MotoGP riders' title in 2007?

Casey Stoner won Ducati’s first MotoGP riders’ title in 2007.

Stoner joined the factory Ducati team for the 2007 season and rode the new 800cc Desmosedici GP7 alongside Loris Capirossi. He won 10 of the season’s 18 races, collected 367 points, and secured the championship at the Japanese Grand Prix with three rounds still remaining.

His title was a breakthrough for both rider and manufacturer. Ducati had debuted in MotoGP in 2003 and had already won races, but Stoner delivered its first premier-class riders’ championship. Ducati also won the constructors’ and teams’ titles in 2007, completing its first MotoGP triple crown.

The 2007 season is sometimes remembered mainly for the switch from 990cc to 800cc engines. Ducati’s machine had exceptional straight-line speed, while Stoner’s control and consistency helped him beat Dani Pedrosa by 125 points. Valentino Rossi finished third in the championship.