Stoner ends Rossi's reign at Mugello

Casey Stoner held off the fast-finishing Jorge Lorenzo to win the Italian Grand Prix yesterday and bring to an end Valentino Rossi's seven-year reign at Mugello.

The Australian also took over the lead in the world championship standings with his second win of the season having also triumphed in Qatar in the opening race.

He now leads Lorenzo, who started on pole, by four points with Rossi third, a further five back.

In a dramatic race that began in wet conditions, Stoner seized the advantage when switching bikes after 10 laps for a change of tyres.

He was the fastest man on the track by some margin in those first few laps after the switch and although Yamaha pair Lorenzo and Rossi were quickest at the end, they had both lost too much time and too many places to hit back.

Stoner completed the 23 laps in 45min 41.894sec to win by just over a second to Spaniard Lorenzo.

Result: 1. Stoner (Ducati); 2. Lorenzo (Yamaha); 3. Rossi (Yamaha); 4. Dovizioso (Honda); 5. Capirossi (Suzuki); 6. Edwards (Yamaha); 7. Toseland (Yamaha); 8. Puniet (Honda); 9. Canepa (Ducati); 10. Vermeulen (Suzuki).