Stoner scores second straight win

From motogp.com

Casey Stoner gave himself, Ducati and Bridgestone a first premier class Assen victory with a superb breakaway from pole on Saturday.

It would have taken a brave man to bet against Stoner achieving a second consecutive victory after his phenomenal form in practice, qualifying and the Saturday warm-up, and the Australian set out his stall early in Assen.

The circuit record was passed over to the Ducati Marlboro rider after just two laps, and he improved incrementally as the race went on to take the win.

"We´ve known that we had the pace to do it, but it makes you even more nervous knowing that the only thing that can go wrong is you," Stoner said. "It managed to stay dry for the race, and I´m happy with that."

Stoner´s task was made slightly easier by the absence of Valentino Rossi from the battle for supremacy, the Fiat Yamaha rider crashing on the opening lap after losing the back end of his bike and careering into Randy de Puniet. Rossi returned to action, at times bettering the pace of the frontrunners with the exception of Stoner, but even if he had stayed on track the 2007 World Champion would almost undoubtedly have proved too fast to catch.

Dani Pedrosa was also unable to prevent a second Stoner breakaway in as many races, the Repsol Honda rider going round in isolation after being passed for the lead by his rival. Second place – combined with Rossi´s misfortunes - puts the Spaniard into the lead in the World Championship.

"It was important to finish in front, second is a very good result," Pedrosa said. "We had struggled a little, and in the race it was impossible to follow Casey. He was so fast, so I just tried my best to push. I am happy with this result, with returning to the podium and with the championship position."

As at last year´s race in the Netherlands, the A-Style TT Assen was set to be Nicky Hayden´s return to the podium in 2008. Untroubled by other riders whilst unable to keep up with the man immediately in front, it had looked to be a cruise to the line for the former World Champion and Assen race winner. However, in an almost tragicomic turn of events, the RC212V used by the Honda factory rider to such good effect gave out on him, and he could only limp over the line in fourth as Colin Edwards took a second podium of the year.

Edwards started from the second row, dropped down the field and then made a comeback on the Tech3 Yamaha. Having lost out in a 2006 to Hayden on the last lap, passing his rival on the home straight was a sweet reward for the `Texas Tornado´.

"What can you say? `What comes around goes around, he who laughs last´ etc., whatever you like," Edwards said. "I thought I got a good start, but I got to the first corner and it found out that I didn't. Valentino crashed in front of me and I had to practically stop the bike. I got closer and closer to Nicky and Dani, but there was nothing that I could really do, then we had some luck at the place that got me two years ago. I´m really happy to be on the podium, especially with my wife and kids here to see it."

Andrea Dovizioso benefitted the most from some hard overtaking moves from Jorge Lorenzo, which broke up a tussle for fifth place. The JiR Team Scot rider eventually took the spot ahead of his Spanish rival, with Chris Vermeulen and Shinya Nakano losing ground.

There were crashes for Kawasaki´s Anthony West and San Carlo Honda Gresini rider Alex de Angelis in the race, whilst early faller Rossi managed to pass both Marco Melandri and subsequently Toni Elias for 11th place.

Race Results
1. C. STONER AUS (Ducati Marlboro Team) 42:12.337
2. D. PEDROSA SPA (Repsol Honda Team) +11.310
3. C. EDWARDS USA (Tech 3 Yamaha) +17.125
4. N. HAYDEN USA (Repsol Honda Team) +20.477
5. A. DOVIZIOSO ITA (JiR Team Scot MotoGP) +27.346
6. J. LORENZO SPA (Fiat Yamaha Team) +28.608
7. C. VERMEULEN AUS (Rizla Suzuki MotoGP) +32.330
8. S. NAKANO JPN (San Carlo Honda Gresini) +34.892
9. J. TOSELAND GBR (Tech 3 Yamaha) +38.566
10. S. GUINTOLI FRA (Alice Team) +38.817
11. V. ROSSI ITA (Fiat Yamaha Team) +46.025
12. T. ELIAS SPA (Alice Team) +48.213
13. M. MELANDRI ITA (Ducati Marlboro Team) +59.594
Not classified
A. WEST AUS (Kawasaki Racing Team) 19 Laps
Not finished 1st lap
R. DE PUNIET FRA (LCR Honda MotoGP)
A. DE ANGELIS RSM (San Carlo Honda Gresini)

Point Standings
1. Dani PEDROSA (Repsol Honda Team) 171
2. Valentino ROSSI (Fiat Yamaha Team) 167
3. Casey STONER (Ducati Marlboro Team) 142
4. Jorge LORENZO (Fiat Yamaha Team) 114
5. Colin EDWARDS (Tech 3 Yamaha) 98
6. Andrea DOVIZIOSO (JiR Team Scot MotoGP) 79
7. Nicky HAYDEN (Repsol Honda Team) 70
8. James TOSELAND (Tech 3 Yamaha) 60
9. Chris VERMEULEN (Rizla Suzuki MotoGP) 57
10. Shinya NAKANO (San Carlo Honda Gresini) 57
11. Loris CAPIROSSI (Rizla Suzuki MotoGP) 51
12. Toni ELIAS (Alice Team) 33
13. John HOPKINS (Kawasaki Racing Team) 32
14. Marco MELANDRI (Ducati Marlboro Team) 32
15. Alex DE ANGELIS (San Carlo Honda Gresini) 25
16. Sylvain GUINTOLI (Alice Team) 24
17. Randy DE PUNIET (LCR Honda MotoGP) 22
18. Anthony WEST (Kawasaki Racing Team) 16
19. Ben SPIES (Rizla Suzuki MotoGP) 2
20. Tadayuki OKADA (Repsol Honda Team) 2