World champion Valentino Rossi won a thrilling duel with Jorge Lorenzo to win the Catalan MotoGP yesterday, squeezing past his Yamaha team-mate on the final corner to snatch his second victory of 2009.

Spaniard Lorenzo started from pole with Rossi in second and the pair swapped the lead several times at a sweltering Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona before the Italian timed his final charge to perfection.

After six races in the 17-race season, Rossi and Lorenzo are tied on 106 points in the overall standings with Australian Ducati rider Casey Stoner, who came in third yesterday.

Rossi, 30, a six-times MotoGP champion, used all his experience to see off the challenge from the 22-year-old Lorenzo and deny him victory on his home circuit. It was his 99th career victory in all categories.

"It was a fantastic battle," Rossi said at a news conference.

"The Yamahas were flying, we got away from the field and I quickly saw that it would be between Jorge and I," he added.

"The final lap was incredible, with two or three incredible braking manoeuvres, and I didn't know whether I could overtake on the last corner but I went for it."

Lorenzo said he had not expected Rossi to attempt to pass him at the death and conceded that the Italian rider had been more courageous and deserved the win.

"He's an old dog and I wasn't intelligent enough to anticipate his move but it's fine," he said.

"The important thing is that the spectators were able to enjoy a race that went to the very last corner."

Bizarre win

Andrea Iannone earlier grabbed a bizarre win in the 125cc category when leader Julian Simon celebrated victory a lap too early and eventually finished back in fourth.

Spaniard Simon and Italian Iannone battled for top spot throughout until Simon crossed the line in first place with one lap left but thought the race was over after misreading a signal from his team.

Iannone zipped past into the lead and Spaniard Nicolas Terol and compatriot Sergio Gadea also finished ahead of Simon in second and third.

Championship leader Alvaro Bautista of Spain won the 250cc race, his second victory of 2009, ahead of Japan's Hiroshi Aoyama in second and Hector Barbera, another Spaniard, in third.

Top 10

1. Rossi, Yamaha - 106

1. Lorenzo, Yamaha - 106

1. Stoner, Ducati - 106

4. Dovizioso, Honda - 69

5. Pedrosa, Honda - 67

6. Edwards, Yamaha - 54

7. Melandri, Kawasaki - 50

8. Capirossi, Suzuki - 49

9. De Puniet, Honda - 42

10. Vermeulen, Suzuki - 42