Casey Stoner won the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday to notch up back-to-back MotoGP victories and firm his hold on the championship lead.
The Australian started fourth on the grid, but his Ducati blew past pole-sitter Valentino Rossi at the start of the second lap, forcing the seven-time world champion into second place.
”It was a really difficult race today. I had a lot of pressure from Valentino in the rear,” Stoner said after the race. ”I think both of us were pushing quite hard.”
Stoner’s comments downplayed his key to victory — a substantial speed advantage over Rossi’s Yamaha on the long straights at the 5,281km Shanghai International Circuit. The GP7 hit a maximum speed of 337,2km/h in the warm-up, against 325,7 km/h for Rossi’s bike.
”It was a good race for me because we always knew this weekend would be difficult because we miss some speed on the big straight,” said Rossi, who nevertheless smashed the circuit fastest-lap record in Saturday’s qualifying.
Rossi’s final bid to pass Stoner on a hairpin turn near the end of the 15th lap went badly wrong, sending him well wide onto the grass. The Italian continued to push hard but never seriously challenged again, finishing 3,036 seconds behind Stoner, who took the win in 44 minutes, 12,891 seconds.
The win is the third in four races for Stoner, coming two weeks after his victory in Turkish Grand Prix. That leaves him atop the riders standings with 86 points, ahead of Rossi on 71 and Spanish Honda rider Dani Pedrosa with 49.
Rossi has one victory, at the season’s second race in Spain, but has yet to win from any of his three pole positions this year.
American John Hopkins was third on a Suzuki, 6,663 seconds off the lead, to collect his first podium of the season. Defending Chinese GP champion Pedrosa finished fourth, 14,090 behind Stoner.
Reigning world champion Nicky Hayden of the United States was hit from behind by Spaniard Toni Elias on the second lap and slid into the grass, his bike damaged. While Elias retired, Hayden recovered to finish 12th, continuing his frustrating start to the season.
”It was a wild ride actually,” said Honda’s Hayden, who is currently in fourth place in the championship without a podium finish this year.
”It’s tough. I really want to give my guys a good result,” he said.
Starting from pole, Jorge Lorenzo Aprilia rode to an easy win in the 250cc class aboard his Aprilia, crossing the finish line in 44:17,095. Fellow Spaniard Alvaro Bautista forced Italy’s Andrea Dovizioso to the outside on the final hairpin to take second place in 44:20,999 by a margin of 1,127 seconds. The result gives Lorenzo
a commanding 27-point lead in the race for the world championship.
In the 125cc category, Lukas Pesek of the Czech Republic snatched victory on a Derbi in 42:25,923, rising to first place in the world championship standings. Hector Faubel of Spain was second on an Aprilia in 42:26,110, followed by Honda rider Esteve Rabat of Spain in 42:26,404. – Sapa-AP