Rossi ends drought with win in China

Rossi returns to winning ways
MotoGP

Valentino Rossi ended his seven-race winless streak with a vintage display in the Pramac Grand Prix of China, repeating his 2005 triumph at the Shanghai International Circuit to take his first victory since the 2007 Portuguese Grand Prix last September. He battled with new MotoGP World Championship leader Dani Pedrosa for the majority of the race.

Starting from second on the grid, Rossi was involved in an inseparable front group for the opening laps. Eager to avoid a breakaway from Repsol Honda rider Pedrosa, the five-time MotoGP World Champion matched his Spanish rival lap-for-lap before finally sticking a move on him the ninth time around the track. After assuming control, he upped the pace to take his first victory with Bridgestone tires, setting a new circuit record of 1´59.273 on his 18th lap.

Rossi lies just nine points behind Pedrosa in the standings after becoming the fourth winner in as many races in 2008. Pedrosa tried hard to assume the early advantage, but eventually finished second to continue as the only rider to have placed on the podium at every race so far.

(L to R) Pedrosa (2nd), Rossi (1st) and Stoner (3rd)
MotoGP

Returning to the rostrum after two races away, 2007 World Champion Casey Stoner completed the top three comprised of each of the previous Shanghai winners. Last year’s victor was unable to play a part in the battle for the win, but now finds himself in a much healthier position in the championship despite not being completely satisfied with the final outcome.

In a result as miraculous as it was mercurial, Jorge Lorenzo took fourth place with a late surge back up the field, playing through the pain of a fractured ankle and other assorted injuries on the occasion of his 21st birthday. Off the podium for the first time this season, the Spaniard nonetheless received a hero’s welcome on his return to the Fiat Yamaha garage. He is now second in the overall standings, seven points behind arch rival Pedrosa.

Marco Melandri had his best result since joining Ducati, in fifth place ahead of 2006 World Champion Nicky Hayden. A tightly bunched group of Tech 3 Yamaha pole man Colin Edwards, Alice Team’s Toni Elias, Suzuki veteran Loris Capirossi and San Carlo Gresini Honda rider Shinya Nakano could have seen any number of combinations to complete the top ten, whilst the only retiree from the race was Chris Vermeulen on the second Rizla Suzuki GSV-R.

Results

Pos.

Rider Nation Team Behind
1 V. ROSSI ITA Fiat Yamaha Team
2 D. PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team 3.890
3 C. STONER AUS Ducati Marlboro Team 15.928
4 J. LORENZO SPA Fiat Yamaha Team 22.494
5 M. MELANDRI ITA Ducati Marlboro Team 26.957
6 N. HAYDEN USA Repsol Honda Team 28.369
7 C. EDWARDS USA Tech 3 Yamaha 29.780
8 T. ELIAS SPA Alice Team 30.225
9 L. CAPIROSSI ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 31.440
10 S. NAKANO JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini 35.969
11 A. DOVIZIOSO ITA JiR Team Scot MotoGP 36.246
12 J. TOSELAND GBR Tech 3 Yamaha 43.191
13 R. DE PUNIET FRA LCR Honda MotoGP 43.442
14 J. HOPKINS USA Kawasaki Racing Team 45.855
15 S. GUINTOLI FRA Alice Team 46.330
16 A. DE ANGELIS RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini 50.593
17 A. WEST AUS Kawasaki Racing Team 1'05.593
Not classified
C. VERMEULEN AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 16 Lap

Point Standings

Pos.

Rider Nation Team Points
1 Dani PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team 81
2 Jorge LORENZO SPA Fiat Yamaha Team 74
3 Valentino ROSSI ITA Fiat Yamaha Team 72
4 Casey STONER AUS Ducati Marlboro Team 56
5 Loris CAPIROSSI ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 33
6 James TOSELAND GBR Tech 3 Yamaha 33
7 Colin EDWARDS USA Tech 3 Yamaha 31
8 Nicky HAYDEN USA Repsol Honda Team 29
9 Andrea DOVIZIOSO ITA JiR Team Scot MotoGP 26
10 John HOPKINS USA Kawasaki Racing Team 26
11 Marco MELANDRI ITA Ducati Marlboro Team 23
12 Shinya NAKANO JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini 22
13 Toni ELIAS SPA Alice Team 15
14 Chris VERMEULEN AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 14
15 Randy DE PUNIET FRA LCR Honda MotoGP 11
16 Alex DE ANGELIS RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini 7
17 Sylvain GUINTOLI FRA Alice Team 4
18 Anthony WEST AUS Kawasaki Racing Team 3