Pedrosa wins as Stoner crashes out

SACHSENRING specialist Dani Pedrosa has won his third successive German MotoGP as a crash cost Casey Stoner the overall lead in the championship.

Dani Pedrosa celebrates after winning the German MotoGP at the Sachsenring Circuit

SACHSENRING specialist Dani Pedrosa has won his third successive German MotoGP as a crash cost Casey Stoner the overall lead in the championship.

The Honda team-mates had battled all race and Stoner, destined to take second, crashed out with two bends remaining on the final lap.

The beneficiary was Yamaha's former champion Jorge Lorenzo, gifted the runner up spot to move clear at the top of the riders standings on 160 points.

Pedrosa climbed into second on 146 with Stoner stuck on 140, having entered the race tied with Lorenzo.

First corner carnage in Assen last weekend had checked Lorenzo's title charge.

Alvaro Bautista was guilty of causing the Spaniard's spill and as a punishment the Honda rider was consigned to the back of the German grid.

In contrast to Saturday's wet weather qualifying, a dry track greeted the field, headed by Stoner on pole, but the Australian was beaten to the first corner by Pedrosa, who started in third.

Stoner reclaimed the lead on turn nine of the opening lap, with Yamaha duo Ben Spies and Lorenzo racing in third and fourth.

The Hondas drew clear with a near three second gap between Pedrosa and Spies by lap six.

With ten laps gone Lorenzo was up to third as Pedrosa stalked Stoner.

The Spaniard duly pounced and passed his Honda colleague with a dozen laps remaining, but was unable to pull clear, setting up a thrilling last third of the race with Lorenzo out of the picture, eight seconds adrift.

Stoner was all set to take second and add another valuable 20 points to his push for the championship until his front wheel went from under him on the last lap, the Australian sliding off, thankfully ending up unharmed in the gravel.

Pedrosa cut a happy figure afterwards, saying: "At the start I wasn't comfortable because of changes to my bike.

"As I became used to all the changes I passed Casey, and was feeling good.

"Towards the end I had to fight for the win, on the last lap I was racing at my maximum."

AFP