Catalunya MotoGP: Stoner dominates to take win

Repsol Honda rider Casey Stoner has dominated the Barcelona MotoGP at Catalunya to take his third win of the 2011 season.

World champion Jorge Lorenzo got a good start to lead for the first couple of laps, but it wasn’t long before Stoner made his way past and opened up a gap on the Spaniard. From then on the Australian was un-catchable, eventually finishing 2.403secs ahead of Lorenzo.

Lorenzo’s team-mate Ben Spies was back to his old self, taking his best result of 2011 with third place. Pole-setter Marco Simoncelli was unable to replicate the form which saw him steal pole from Stoner in qualifying, getting a poor start whch saw him mid-pack at the first corner, Simoncelli finished sixth.

After a scrap with Andrea Dovizioso in the early stages of the race, Valentino Rossi finished fifth, behind Dovizioso.

Brit Cal Crutchlow scored his best finish in MotoGP in seventh place ahead of Nicky Hayden.

1. Casey Stoner AUS Repsol Honda Team 43m 19.779s
2. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Yamaha Factory Racing 43m 22.182s
3. Ben Spies USA Yamaha Factory Racing 43m 24.070s
4. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Repsol Honda Team 43m 25.034s
5. Valentino Rossi ITA Ducati Marlboro Team 43m 27.150s
6. Marco Simoncelli ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini 43m 31.610s
7. Cal Crutchlow GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 43m 46.262s
8. Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Marlboro Team 43m 53.022s
9. Loris Capirossi ITA Pramac Racing Team 44m 2.871s
10. Karel Abraham CZE Cardion AB Motoracing 44m 2.892s
11. Hector Barbera ESP Mapfre Aspar Team 44m 4.003s
12. Alvaro Bautista ESP Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 44m 5.018s
13. Toni Elias ESP LCR Honda MotoGP 44m 18.047s