Casey Stoner took a further step toward his second MotoGP world title with an impressive win in the Grand Prix of Aragon in Spain Sunday.
The Australian powered his Repsol Honda to a pole to finish line victory, his eighth of a dominant season with his teammate Dani Pedrosa of Spain in second place.
Reigning world champion Jorge Lorenzo finished third at the Motorland circuit on his Yamaha and now trails Stoner by 44 points with just four races left of the season.
Stoner had slipped to third behind Lorenzo after starting from pole in the previous round in San Marino, but made no mistake this time after recovering from an indifferent start .
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MotoGP: Aragon Grand Prix - Race Results
MotoGP: Casey Stoner Edges Pedrosa to Earn Pole For Aragon Grand Prix
MotoGP: Aragon Grand Prix - Race Line Up
Lorenzo was content with his podium position which kept his slim title hopes still alive. CNN International
Marco Simoncelli, who had been third briefly before going too fast into a corner and running wide, had to settle for fourth ahead of Spies and Suzuki’s Alvaro Bautista.
Coventry’s Cal Crutchlow had one of his best rides in recent rounds as he duelled with seven-time winner of the elite crown Valentino Rossi.
Riding the Tech3 Yamaha, Crutchlow held on to ninth place just ahead of the Italian, who had worked himself into contention after an enforced pit-lane start, having changed the engine on his Ducati ahead of the race.
Crutchlow, who was riding the circuit for the first time, blamed himself for a poor start and said: “It was elbows out riding and good to finish inside the top 10 again. Now we will study the data and look to improve again in the next race.”
His team-mate, former twice World Superbike champion Colin Edwards, in his 150th MotoGP race, crossed the line last of the 13 riders who finished the race.
Karel Abraham crashed heavily at the second corner of the opening lap and shortly afterwards Andrea Dovizioso went down. And in the closing stages, Toni Elias and Loris Capirossi tangled. Daily Star
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