Pedrosa claims flag-to-flag win

Spain's Dani Pedrosa claimed his fifth MotoGP victory with a superb flag-to-flag ride on his Honda in the Spanish GP at Jerez yesterday.

The 22-year-old rocketed past pole sitter and arch-rival Jorge Lorenzo to take the lead on the first corner and proceeded to lay down a series of blistering laps on his way to an emphatic victory in front of his home fans.

Five-times MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi claimed second place, just under three seconds behind Pedrosa, despite thinking the race had ended a lap before the end while his Yamaha team-mate and MotoGP rookie Lorenzo finished third.

Lorenzo is the first rider since Max Biaggi in 1998 to achieve podium finishes in his first two appearances in the premier class.

American Nicky Hayden was fourth on his Honda but defending champion Casey Stoner finished back in 11th place after taking two detours on the gravel on the Ducati.

Loris Capirossi was a distant fifth, while Britain's former world superbike champion James Toseland, who has been suffering from bronchitis, repeated the sixth-place finish he achieved in Qatar.

Pedrosa leads the championship standings with 41 points, five clear of Lorenzo, while Rossi is in third on 31 points, one ahead of Stoner.

King Juan Carlos of Spain, who presented the trophies, ended the day on a light-hearted note when he forced arch-rivals Pedrosa and Lorenzo to shake hands before stepping out on to the podium.

Finnish rider Mika Kallio snatched a dramatic win in the 250cc race after leading pair Alvaro Bautista and Marco Simoncelli collided in the last lap.

Italy's Simone Corsi won the 125cc race to notch up his second victory of his career and take over at the top of the championship standings.

Aprilia team-mate Nicolas Terol of Spain was second, while Britain's Bradley Smith won an exciting duel with Stefan Bradl to claim his second career rostrum.