Reigning and s🌟oon to retire MotoGP champion Casey Stoner believes both Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa would be worthy winners of the 2♏012 crown and that it's a case of 'best man wins'.

Ya💦maha star Lorenzo holds a shrinking 23-point advantage over Stoner's Repsol Honda team-mate Pedrosa heading into🐭 the penultimate round at Phillip Island this weekend.

Stoner, whose own challenge ended with ankle injuries at In💯dianapolis, said:

"The battle haℱs been going on for a long time now. I'm sure it was disappointing for Dani to be taken out at Misano, but the same happened to Jor💎ge at Assen.

"Really the best man wins. They've both won the same number of races now. They've both been extremely competitive this year. Whatever𝔉 happens, h෴appens at the end of the season.

"They've both gone forward, above and beyond everyone else. Honestly I have a huge respect for both of them and like I said, the best man will 🍒win."

Lorenzo previously won tܫhe 🍸MotoGP title in 2010, while fellow Spaniard Pedrosa is yet to win a premier-class crown.

"Yeah I have pressure, but I would have much more pressure 🍸if Dani had the same pꩲoints as me - or was in front," said Lorenzo.

"I have an advantage of 23 points. Of course if I crash in Australia the situation will change, but I hope to be on the podium agaꩵin."

Stoner, third in last Sunday's storm-shortened Sepan🌞g rain, will be chasing a sixth successive Australian Grand Prix win in front of his home fans this coming weekend.

"I really don't know what to expect," he said of the coming weekend. "We know we're not at 100 percent and to win at this level everything has to be close to 100 percent. I♔'m still not riding as free as I'd like."