Dani Pedrosa became the first rider to win from pole position this season as he secured victory in the Italian MotoGP at Mugello by over four seconds.
Championship leader Jorge Lorenzo came home second behind his fellow Spaniard, with Pedrosa’s Repsol Honda team-mate Andrea Dovizioso third.
Ducati’s Casey Stoner took fourth after a thrilling battle with Marco Melandri and Randy de Puniet.
Pedrosa’s win puts him second in the standings behind Lorenzo. BBC Sport
“It was a disappointing race,” said Lorenzo. “I couldn’t keep up the pace I had in practice and I’m sorry about that, but I’m happy with the 20 points [for second place].”
Rossi’s fellow riders and fans showed banners expressing their support for him, with “come back soon Vale” and “the World Championship is worthless without Vale” frequently featured sentiments. Today’s race was the first Italian grand prix without Rossi since he moved up to the premier class in 2000.
The rider, who has been mulling a future move into rallying or Formula One, notched a run of seven consecutive wins at Mugello before the sequence was broken by Stoner last year. The Guardian
Spies finished seventh in his first race at the circuit, with another rookie impressing in the shape of Aleix Espargaró (Pramac Racing) who took eighth. Simoncelli had recovered from his earlier mistake in time to take ninth, with Loris Capirossi (Rizla Suzuki) tenth.
Lorenzo now has 90 points at the top of the Championship, with Pedrosa second on 65. The absent Rossi is third on 61, with Dovizioso’s podium taking him to 58 in fourth. MotoGP
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MotoGP: Italian Grand Prix - Race Results
MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa Claims Pole Position For Italian Grand Prix at Mugello
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