World Champion Valentino Rossi delighted the home crowd at Misano on Sunday with his second successive victory at the Italian circuit, to reassert his authority in the MotoGP title race. MotoGP
Italian Rossi, who was born in nearby Tavullia, started the race on pole but was left trailing Dani Pedrosa in the early stages as the Spaniard grabbed the lead going into the first corner.
Rossi was then forced to fend off a spirited challenge from his Yamaha teammate and nearest championship rival Jorge Lorenzo, before edging past Honda rider Pedrosa with 21 laps left and pulling away for victory. CNN International
Victory stretched Rossi’s lead over title rival Lorenzo as Pedrosa’s third place moved him up to third in the standings over Ducati Marlboro’s Casey Stoner who is taking a break from the series to recover from illness.
A delighted Rossi said: “It was a perfect weekend and thanks to all the fans because it was a very important victory for me.”
Lorenzo admitted he had been second best to his team-mate, as he said: “He was the number one this weekend because he is the fastest.” The Press Association
Andrea Dovizioso came in fourth.
Fifth went to veteran Rizla Suzuki rider Loris Capirossi as the fast-starting Toni Elias, on the San Carlo Gresini Honda, finally faded from second to finish the race in sixth. BBC Sport
| 
|