Sunday, July 5, 2009

Pedrosa storms to US MotoGP glory

Dani Pedrosa
Spaniard Pedrosa led from start to finish

Dani Pedrosa scorched to victory in the US MotoGP after coming from fourth on the grid to hit the front from the start of the race at Laguna Seca.

World champion Valentino Rossi came home in second place to stretch his championship lead to nine points.

Jorge Lorenzo and Casey Stoner produced courageous rides to finish third and fourth respectively after both men had suffered huge qualifying crashes.

Britain's James Toseland was disqualified for not obeying a penalty.

It's a good feeling to be back winning for me and my team
Dani Pedrosa

Toseland was given a ride-through penalty after he was judged to have jumped the start but failed to come in to the pit lane within the three laps alloted to do so.

It capped a miserable weekend for the Tech 3 Yamaha rider who had qualified in 15th place on the grid.

In stark contrast, Pedrosa profited from a searing start to zip into the lead and never relinquished it.

The only moment of concern for the Spaniard was on the final lap when he appeared to slow his pace too much and almost allowed Rossi a chance to overtake and steal victory.

Pedrosa told BBC Sport: "The performance was very good. I was comfortable, I was doing great laps, and just in the last lap I relaxed a little bit too much.

"When I saw in the last lap the bike of Rossi I thought maybe I was too slow. But it's a good feeling to be back winning for me and my team."

Rossi said: "I came down the hill in the last lap like a crazy man but it was too risky to overtake."

The Italian will be delighted with second place, though, after getting the better of an early tussle with Stoner, whose performance was all the more remarkable given his lack of fitness.

The Australian was forced to ride his number two bike after he has crashed out of qualifying on Saturday - a fall that left him suffering severe pain in his shoulder, arm and ribs.

Lorenzo fared even better than Stoner, despite having had a similar high-side crash in qualifying, managing to secure a place on the podium despite his discomfort.

It even looked at one stage as though the Yamaha rider, who had started from pole position, was going to pip Rossi to second.

But with five laps to go Lorenzo pushed so hard when overtaking that he only just managed to stay on the bike, running wide wide and allowing his team-mate Rossi to stay in second.

Lorenzo, who needed painkillers to be able to race, said: "Things were so difficult. I did the best I could. The pain was terrible in the collarbone.

"Valentino was fast and especially Dani but in the end I kept my pace and finished third."

American Nicky Hayden rode impressively to bring in his Ducati in fifth in front of his home crowd.

United States MotoGP result:

1. Dani Pedrosa (Spain) Honda 44 minutes 01.580 seconds
2. Valentino Rossi (Italy) Yamaha 44:01.924
3. Jorge Lorenzo (Spain) Yamaha 44:03.506
4. Casey Stoner (Australia) Ducati 44:14.012
5. Nicky Hayden (U.S.) Ducati 44:23.243
6. Toni Elias (Spain) Honda 44:23.621
7. Colin Edwards (U.S.) Yamaha 44:31.781
8. Chris Vermeulen (Australia) Suzuki 44:34.437
9. Randy de Puniet (France) Honda 44:41.905
10. Marco Melandri (Italy) Kawasaki 44:49.608
11. Alex de Angelis (San Marino) Honda 44:50.390
12. Niccolo Canepa (Italy) Ducati 45:20.111

MotoGP world champoinship standings:

1. Valentino Rossi (Italy) Yamaha 151
2. Jorge Lorenzo (Spain) Yamaha 142
3. Casey Stoner (Australia) Ducati 135
4. Dani Pedrosa (Spain) Honda 92
5. Colin Edwards (U.S.) Yamaha 76
6. Andrea Dovizioso (Italy) Honda 69
7. Marco Melandri (Italy) Kawasaki 61
8. Chris Vermeulen (Australia) Suzuki 61
9. Randy de Puniet (France) Honda 58
10. Loris Capirossi (Italy) Suzuki 56
11. James Toseland (Britain) Yamaha 39
12. Nicky Hayden (U.S.) Ducati 38
13. Toni Elias (Spain) Honda 37
14. Alex de Angelis (San Marino) Honda 36
15. Mika Kallio (Finland) Ducati 26
16. Niccolo Canepa (Italy) Ducati 16
17. Sete Gibernau (Spain) Ducati 12
18. Yuki Takahashi (Japan) Honda 9

о 12:58 PM

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