motorcycle news - Tuesday 1st April 2008

Pedrosa cruises to victory in Spanish MotoGP

Honda rider Dani Pedrosa took the championship lead after powering to victory in front of his home crowd at the Spanish MotoGP in Jerez. Pedrosa, last year's championship runner-up, took the race lead early from the front of the grid and finished ahead of Valentino Rossi.

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Britain's James Toseland was pushed back into sixth on the final bend. Jorge Lorenzo came third, as defending champion Casey Stoner finished 11th after twice running in to the gravel.

Pedrosa passed his compatriot on the first corner and was never seriously challenged in the rest of the race. Pedrosa's first MotoGP win at Jerez comes less than three months after he broke his leg in a training crash.

"I'm very happy about the performance because it comes after a difficult winter during which we couldn't test so much," he said.

"To score good results in two complicated races and lead the championship is very important."

Report: Pedrosa wins Spanish MotoGP

"I got a good start - not spectacular like in Qatar but effective - so I was able to take the lead."

Stoner was trying make up ground from the start, having begun the day seventh on the grid; but his chances of a decent finish took a knock on lap three when he ended up in the gravel and was relegated to the back of the field. By the end, he had battled his way through to 11th place; but another misjudgment as he tried to pass Shinya Nakano and Chris Vermeuelen saw him end up in the gravel again.

Toseland's performance was all the more impressive as he was suffering from a chest infection; but afterwards he said he was pleased with his day's work.

"I've had easier races, I'm not too good but I want to thank the mobile clinic for pumping everything into me," he told BBC Sports reporters.

"It's so frustrating as the bike's been working so well in pre-season - I was hoping for fifth place, better than in Qatar; but to equal that is great."

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Jerez MotoGP result:
1 D Pedrosa (Sp) Honda
2 V Rossi (It) Yamaha
3 J Lorenzo (Sp) Yamaha
4 N Hayden (US) Honda
5 L Capirossi (It) Suzuki
6 J Toseland (GB) Yamaha
7 J Hopkins (US) Kawasaki
8 A Dovizioso (It) Honda

MotoGP championship standings:
1 D Pedrosa 41 pts
2 J Lorenzo 36
3 V Rossi 31
4 C Stoner 30
5 A Dovizioso 21
6 J Toseland 20
7 L Capirossi 19
8 N Hayden 19
9 J Hopkins 13
10 S Nakano 10

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