Toseland (right) led Rossi and Lorenzo at one stage during the Australian GP

Matt Roberts BBC Sport at Phillip Island

They say Phillip Island is a riders' circuit, where the cream invariably rises to the top, and on Sunday the proof was in the Yorkshire pudding.

With prior track knowledge and the weak points of his satellite machine under less stress at a circuit that rewards skill over horsepower, James Toseland rose to the challenge laid on by Valentino Rossi, overtaking him for the first time and coming within a Bridgestone rear tyre of a podium finish.

Rossi, the greatest of all time, came from twelfth on the grid to make the podium for the eleventh successive season at the island, while inch-perfect rides from Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden ensured that all three MotoGP World Champions stood up there together. That's no coincidence.

Hot on the heels of victory in his home grand prix, national honours keep on coming for Stoner, who is this week up as a nominee in the Nickelodeon's Australian Kids' Choice Awards 2008.

Stoner is up for 'Fave Sports Star' - a category previously won by Ian Thorpe, Lleyton Hewitt and Tony Hawk. Other categories include 'Fave Hottie', 'So Hot Right Now' and my personal favourite: 'Biggest Greenie'.

Disappointingly, this award is for the celebrity kids believe has done the most to help the environment. As such, I will not be sending in my entry.

Valentino Rossi also received an unusual nomination this weekend, with Brad Pitt labelling him as his 'idol' in an interview with the Riders Italian Magazine.

Even idols have idols, as film star Brad Pitt reveals

"We are public figures, we shouldn't have idols we worship, but I have one above all others: Valentino Rossi," said Pitt.

"I would give anything to be like him. That guy is a real magician. He could hypnotise me… He's like a ballet dancer, it's pure art… For me watching him in action is like reading a poem."

Alongside the satellite Hondas, the Suzuki GSV-R recorded the slowest top speeds of the weekend at Phillip Island but at least Team Manager Paul Denning can claim to have one of the fastest crews.

Loris Capirossi totalled his bike in a crash during Saturday morning's final free practice, requiring a complete rebuild over lunch. His crew, with a little help from Chris Vermeulen's side of the garage, completed the job in 90 minutes.

The 2009 grid moved one step closer to completion this weekend when Toni Elias was confirmed as a Gresini Honda rider for next season, returning to the team he rode for in 2007.

The only surprise about the deal is that Elias will be riding a third factory spec RC212V, although he will remain behind Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso in the HRC parts pecking order.

The switch from Alice Ducati maintains Elias' remarkable record of riding a different machine every season since making his MotoGP debut on a 990cc Yamaha in 2005 before riding a 990cc Honda, 800cc Honda and 800cc Ducati. This, however, will be the first time he has received factory support.

With Ben Spies having confirmed his switch to WSB with Yamaha, Colin Edwards is now safe at Tech 3 Yamaha, leaving only one position to be decided in MotoGP - the third Kawasaki, to be run by current 250cc and 125cc Team Manager Jorge Martinez.

The nomadic Elias is on the move...... again

The Japanese factory are willing to lease the bike on the condition Shinya Nakano is on board but Martinez claims he cannot sell Nakano to his Spanish sponsors.

Having been rejected by Elias and Carlos Checa, the Spaniard's preference is now Alex Debon or Angel Rodriguez, a former 125cc protege who left Grand Prix racing with personal problems but recently bounced back to win the Spanish Supersport title.

Martinez is also set to announce the capture of Bradley Smith for his 125cc line-up next season, with a plan to move him up to 250cc in 2010.

Bridgestone have been confirmed as the only bidder to be MotoGP's single tyre supplier for 2009.

Michelin confirmed they would not be bidding on Saturday evening in a barbed statement that many saw as a parting shot at series organisers Dorna, who would have benefited financially from a bidding war.

The French manufacturers referred to commercial products such as their radial and dual compound tyres as direct descendants of MotoGP technology and suggested the lack of competition would prevent such innovations in the future - despite having overbearingly dominated Grand Prix themselves for almost two decades prior to Bridgestone's arrival.

"The MotoGP [World] Championship organisers have decided to use a single tyre supplier for the coming seasons, which effectively eliminates the competitive environment that has led to so much progress," read the statement.

Finally, and to consolidate the point that Phillip Island rewards the best riders, Mike Di Meglio clinched the 125cc World Championship with a dominant victory by over 10 seconds from Stefan Bradl.

Marco Simoncelli set himself up for a crack at the title in Malaysia with victory in the 250cc race after a 'hairy' battle with Alvaro Bautista.

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