Pedrosa...unstoppable at Jerez
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DANI PEDROSA won his home Grand Prix at Jerez today, leading the race from the green light to the chequered flag.
The Spaniard got a flyer of a start, pipping pole-sitter Lorenzo to the first corner and was never challenged for the lead for the remainder of the race.
Earlier in the week, Visordown reported how Rossi tipped Pedrosa, not Lorenzo, as the man to watch at Jerez and the Italian was proved right - despite Lorenzo's stunning pole position.
Rossi himself got back to his usual form, taking a strong second place, crossing the line almost three seconds behind Pedrosa's Repsol Honda. Rossi's Fiat Yamaha teammate, Jorge Lorenzo, couldn't live up to his stunning qualifying pace, finishing the race in third place for the last spot on the podium.
Reigning World Champion Casey Stoner will probably want to forget today's performance. The Australian had a distastrous race, including two gravel trap excursions, while attempting to outbrake the competition at the end of the back straight. Stoner fought his way back through the pack after dropping to 12th position after his first off-track experience. At one point the 22-year-old looked promising for a potential podium but a second, almost identical incident towards the end of the race sealed Stoner's fate.
Britain's James Toseland fought off illness to take 6th place at the chequered flag. Toseland looked promising for a 5th but was baulked by a hard-charging Anrdrea Dovizioso at the very last corner, handing fifth to a lucky Loris Capirossi.
Results from Jerez
1 Dani Pedrosa Honda HRC 45:35.121
2 Valentino Rossi Yamaha Factory 45:38.004
3 Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha Factory 45:39.460
4 Nicky Hayden Honda HRC 45:45.263
5 Loris Capirossi Suzuki MotoGP 46:02.645
6 James Toseland Yamaha Tech3 46:02.929
7 John Hopkins Kawasaki Racing 46:03.417
8 Andrea Dovizioso Honda Scot 46:03.570
9 Shinya Nakano Honda Gresini 46:07.690
10 Chris Vermulen Suzuki MotoGP 46:10.212
11 Casey Stoner Ducati MotoGP 46:17.344
12 Marco Melandri Ducati MotoGP 46:19.619
13 Anthony West Kawasaki Racing 46:20.928
14 Alex De Angelis Honda Gresini 46:20.992
15 Antonio Elias Ducati d Antin 46:44.679
16 Sylvain Guintoli Ducati d Antin 46:49.563
