Catalunya MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa wins home GP

Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa has taken the win at his home MotoGP from championship leader Valentino Rossi.

Spaniard Dani Pedrosa led from the start and at one point stretch out a commandin lead of over seven seconds from Valentino Rossi.

Valentino Rossi qualified ninth, but by lap 10 had passed world champion Casey Stoner and was up into seond place, but was too far behind Pedrosa to make an attempt on for the lead.

Britain’s James Toseland battled with ex-world champion Nicky Hayden and Chris Vermeulen to eventually finish sixth, behind team-mate Colin Edwards.

Fellow MotoGP rookie Andrea Dovizioso managed to fight his way past Casey Stoner in the opening laps of the race to take second, but finished the lap in ana impressive fourth.

Randy De Puniet was running in sixth position with the race leaders but crashed out on lap 13. Alex De Angelis and Loris Capirossi crashed out of the race on lap 12.

1  D. PEDROSA  SPA  Repsol Honda Team  43’02.175
2  V. ROSSI  ITA  Fiat Yamaha Team  + 2.806
3  C. STONER  AUS  Ducati Marlboro Team  + 3.343
4  A. DOVIZIOSO  ITA  JiR Team Scot MotoGP  + 10.893
5  C. EDWARDS  USA  Tech 3 Yamaha  + 16.426
6  J. TOSELAND  GBR  Tech 3 Yamaha  + 21.482
7  C. VERMEULEN  AUS  Rizla Suzuki MotoGP  + 21.548
8  N. HAYDEN  USA  Repsol Honda Team  + 22.280
9  S. NAKANO  JPN  San Carlo Honda Gresini  + 22.375
10  J. HOPKINS  USA  Kawasaki Racing Team  + 46.835
11  M. MELANDRI  ITA  Ducati Marlboro Team  + 57.991
12  A. WEST  AUS  Kawasaki Racing Team  + 59.168
13  S. GUINTOLI  FRA  Alice Team  + 1’00.779