Reverend
March 25th, 2007, 19:43 PM
Five-time world champion Valentino Rossi got his first win of 2007 and disappointed the home fans as he beat Dani Pedrosa at the Spanish MotoGP.
The Italian started from second on the grid but eased past Spaniard Pedrosa on the opening lap and led throughout.
Yamaha's Rossi finished over a second ahead of Honda's Pedrosa and Yamaha team-mate Colin Edwards of the USA.
Rossi moves to the top of the standings after Casey Stoner, winner in Qatar two weeks ago, came in fifth on the Ducati.
World champion Nicky Hayden made a great start from 11th on the grid and got as high as fourth before fading in the latter stages to finish seventh.
Stoner, in contrast, got stronger as the race went on and powered past Hayden with seven laps remaining to take fifth behind Spain's Toni Elias.
Suzuki rider John Hopkins looked sharp as he posted the fastest times in the early laps to move into fifth but the American slid off into the gravel on lap 16.
"It was a great, great race for us," Rossi told BBC Sport. "I did some small modifications after the warm-up and the bike was very fast from the beginning.
"The tyres worked very well, I went in front from the start and it was a perfect race for us."
Pedrosa said: "To be second here is very good. We are on the podium again. I think we did a good weekend and the people here were unbelievable."
Spanish MotoGP result:
1. Valentino Rossi (Italy) Yamaha
2. Dani Pedrosa (Spain) Honda
3. Colin Edwards (US) Yamaha
4. Toni Elias (Spain) Honda
5. Casey Stoner (Australia) Ducati
6. Carlos Checa (Spain) Honda
7. Nicky Hayden (US) Honda
8. Marco Melandri (Italy) Honda
Championship standings:
1. Valentino Rossi (Italy) Yamaha 45 pts
2. Casey Stoner (Australia) Ducati 36
3. Dani Pedrosa (Spain) Honda 36
4. Colin Edwards (US) Yamaha 26
5. Marco Melandri (Italy) Honda 19
6. Nicky Hayden (US) Honda 17
7. Chris Vermeulen (Australia) Suzuki 16
8. Toni Elias (Spain) Honda 15
BBC Sport (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/motorbikes/6493169.stm)
The Italian started from second on the grid but eased past Spaniard Pedrosa on the opening lap and led throughout.
Yamaha's Rossi finished over a second ahead of Honda's Pedrosa and Yamaha team-mate Colin Edwards of the USA.
Rossi moves to the top of the standings after Casey Stoner, winner in Qatar two weeks ago, came in fifth on the Ducati.
World champion Nicky Hayden made a great start from 11th on the grid and got as high as fourth before fading in the latter stages to finish seventh.
Stoner, in contrast, got stronger as the race went on and powered past Hayden with seven laps remaining to take fifth behind Spain's Toni Elias.
Suzuki rider John Hopkins looked sharp as he posted the fastest times in the early laps to move into fifth but the American slid off into the gravel on lap 16.
"It was a great, great race for us," Rossi told BBC Sport. "I did some small modifications after the warm-up and the bike was very fast from the beginning.
"The tyres worked very well, I went in front from the start and it was a perfect race for us."
Pedrosa said: "To be second here is very good. We are on the podium again. I think we did a good weekend and the people here were unbelievable."
Spanish MotoGP result:
1. Valentino Rossi (Italy) Yamaha
2. Dani Pedrosa (Spain) Honda
3. Colin Edwards (US) Yamaha
4. Toni Elias (Spain) Honda
5. Casey Stoner (Australia) Ducati
6. Carlos Checa (Spain) Honda
7. Nicky Hayden (US) Honda
8. Marco Melandri (Italy) Honda
Championship standings:
1. Valentino Rossi (Italy) Yamaha 45 pts
2. Casey Stoner (Australia) Ducati 36
3. Dani Pedrosa (Spain) Honda 36
4. Colin Edwards (US) Yamaha 26
5. Marco Melandri (Italy) Honda 19
6. Nicky Hayden (US) Honda 17
7. Chris Vermeulen (Australia) Suzuki 16
8. Toni Elias (Spain) Honda 15
BBC Sport (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/motorbikes/6493169.stm)