DANI Pedrosa kept his championship chances alive with a win over Jorge Lorenzo at the Japanese MotoGP.
San Carlo Honda-riding Alvaro Bautista reeled in Cal Crutchlow for third place, but Crutchlow looked like coming back strong with two laps to go, only to run out of petrol, gifting Bautista the last spot on the podium.
Casey Stoner, returning from injury, put in a decent performance in 5th place, twenty seconds off team-mate Dani Pedrosa.
Yamaha test rider Katsuyuki Nakasuga entered as a wildcard and only just lost out to Nicky Hayden in a drag race to the line, bagging a very respectable 9th.
Roberto Rolfo, finishing in 16th and last, was the only rider to not get a point.
Japanese MotoGP Race Results, Motegi
1. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda (RC213V) 42m 31.569s
2. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Yamaha Factory Racing (YZR-M1) 42m 35.844s
3. Alvaro Bautista ESP San Carlo Honda Gresini (RC213V) 42m 38.321s
4. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1) 42m 47.966s
5. Casey Stoner AUS Repsol Honda (RC213V) 42m 52.135s
6. Stefan Bradl GER LCR Honda MotoGP (RC213V) 42m 56.136s
7. Valentino Rossi ITA Ducati Team (GP12) 42m 57.641s
8. Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Team (GP12) 43m 8.293s
9. Katsuyuki Nakasuga JPN Yamaha YSP Racing Team (YZR-M1) 43m 8.363s
10. Hector Barbera ESP Pramac Racing (GP12) 43m 42.298s
11. Karel Abraham CZE Cardion AB Motoracing (GP12) 43m 47.227s
12. Aleix Espargaro ESP Power Electronics Aspar (ART CRT) 43m 54.338s
13. Colin Edwards USA NGM Forward Racing (Suter-BMW CRT) 43m 56.537s
14. James Ellison GBR Paul Bird Motorsport (ART CRT) 44m 0.957s
15. Michele Pirro ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini (FTR-Honda CRT) 44m 6.181s
16. Roberto Rolfo ITA Speed Master (ART CRT) 44m 22.422s
DNF:
Cal Crutchlow GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)
Danilo Petrucci ITA Came IodaRacing (Suter-BMW CRT)
Ivan Silva ESP Avintia Blusens (FTR-Kawasaki CRT)
Randy De Puniet FRA Power Electronics Aspar (ART CRT)
Ben Spies USA Yamaha Factory Racing (YZR-M1)
Yonny Hernandez COL Avintia Blusens (FTR-Kawasaki CRT)
