Reverend
June 3rd, 2007, 18:13 PM
Valentino Rossi won at Mugello for the sixth year in a row to maintain his 100% record in the Italian MotoGP.
The Yamaha rider went in front on lap nine and held on to time 42 minutes 42.385 seconds over 23 laps. He beat home Spain's Dani Pedrosa by 3.074 seconds, while veteran Alex Barros of Brazil was third.
Australian Casey Stoner finished fourth after starting on pole and had his overall lead in the title race cut to nine points by Rossi.
Rossi had a slow start, dropping from third to eighth after the first lap, but he quickly worked his way through the field.
"Six wins in a row, eight in all, that's not bad," said Rossi. "To win here is always very special. There was a lot of yellow flags waving which motivated me even more.
"The weather helped us and despite a bad start I remained calm because I had a good rhythm.
"I had a good battle with Dani Pedrosa and the fact that Casey Stoner did not finish on the podium means the title race is wide open again in what is a very long campaign."
Rossi equalled the achievement of Australian Mick Doohan, who won the Italian Grand Prix six years running between 1993 and 1998 in the old 500cc class.
Italian GP result:
1. Valentino Rossi (Ita) Yamaha
2. Dani Pedrosa (Spa) Honda
3. Alex Barros (Brz) Ducati
4. Casey Stoner (Aus) Ducati
5. John Hopkins (USA) Suzuki
6. Toni Elias (Sp) Honda
7. Loris Capirosso (Ita) Ducati
8. Chris Vermeulen (Aus) Suzuki
Chamionship standings:
1. Casey Stoner (Aus) Ducati 115 pts
2. Valentino Rossi (Ita) Yamaha 106
3. Dani Pedrosa (Spa) Honda 82
4. Marco Melandri (Ita) Honda 68
5. Chris Vermeulen (Aus) Suzuki 63
6. John Hopkins (USA) Suzuki 59
7. Loris Capirossi (Ita) Ducati 47
8. Toni Elias (Spa) Honda 45
BBC Sport (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/motorbikes/6716713.stm)
The Yamaha rider went in front on lap nine and held on to time 42 minutes 42.385 seconds over 23 laps. He beat home Spain's Dani Pedrosa by 3.074 seconds, while veteran Alex Barros of Brazil was third.
Australian Casey Stoner finished fourth after starting on pole and had his overall lead in the title race cut to nine points by Rossi.
Rossi had a slow start, dropping from third to eighth after the first lap, but he quickly worked his way through the field.
"Six wins in a row, eight in all, that's not bad," said Rossi. "To win here is always very special. There was a lot of yellow flags waving which motivated me even more.
"The weather helped us and despite a bad start I remained calm because I had a good rhythm.
"I had a good battle with Dani Pedrosa and the fact that Casey Stoner did not finish on the podium means the title race is wide open again in what is a very long campaign."
Rossi equalled the achievement of Australian Mick Doohan, who won the Italian Grand Prix six years running between 1993 and 1998 in the old 500cc class.
Italian GP result:
1. Valentino Rossi (Ita) Yamaha
2. Dani Pedrosa (Spa) Honda
3. Alex Barros (Brz) Ducati
4. Casey Stoner (Aus) Ducati
5. John Hopkins (USA) Suzuki
6. Toni Elias (Sp) Honda
7. Loris Capirosso (Ita) Ducati
8. Chris Vermeulen (Aus) Suzuki
Chamionship standings:
1. Casey Stoner (Aus) Ducati 115 pts
2. Valentino Rossi (Ita) Yamaha 106
3. Dani Pedrosa (Spa) Honda 82
4. Marco Melandri (Ita) Honda 68
5. Chris Vermeulen (Aus) Suzuki 63
6. John Hopkins (USA) Suzuki 59
7. Loris Capirossi (Ita) Ducati 47
8. Toni Elias (Spa) Honda 45
BBC Sport (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/motorbikes/6716713.stm)