Pedrosa ends victory drought

From motogp.com

After more than a year without a victory for Honda, since his own win at Catalunya last season, Dani Pedrosa triumphed in the MotoGP World Championship round at Laguna Seca on Sunday, taking the holeshot from fourth on the grid and not looking back - to cross the finishing line ahead of his closest rival Valentino Rossi.

Following a string of crashes and injury problems Pedrosa was finally back to his very best, lapping at a pace which none of his opponents could match. At one stage he had built up a significant gap at the front and although Rossi chased him down on the final lap there were no mishaps this time.

Indeed, the pressure had been mounting on Pedrosa for several months with a string of injuries and crashes – dating back to Sachsenring last year when he crashed out as he led the race – and the former 125cc and 250cc World Champion was quick to thank those around him as he stepped off the Laguna podium.

“It was a nice race and a nice weekend for us,” Pedrosa told motogp.com. “It has been tough but we did a good job and to finally get a win here is a good feeling. After a whole year with so many troubles and injuries this is perfect. Not only for me but for my team, because they also really needed it and we are very happy. I especially want to thank them for continuing to push forward in the bad times.”

Also acknowledging the medical treatment he has received in the past 12 months on catalogue of hand, arm and leg injuries Pedrosa stated, “I also want to thank the doctors who have treated me as they have enabled me to return to racing at this level. I want to thank everybody around me.”

Pedrosa still has some way to go if he is to challenge at the head of the standings however, as current leader Rossi picked up more good World Championship points in second place, while Jorge Lorenzo and Casey Stoner were third and fourth respectively.

Rossi was close to catching surprise winner Pedrosa in the final stages of the race as the Spaniard eased up on the last lap.

“Over the last laps we pushed very hard, me and Jorge, because Jorge wanted to catch me and I wanted to take a small advantage, as the second place was very important," Rossi explained. "Then on the last lap Dani slowed down a lot so we arrived very fast to Dani, so it looked possible to try and win, but actually I was not quite close enough, it was too risky.

“This second place is very important for the championship but today we were not at 100 per cent with the bike. We could possibly have made it a bit better. We worked hard but I had some problems at the beginning of the race. Anyway, like I said the 20 points are important, we’ve come here after two great races, so now we take a rest for one week and we will try to be strong again at Sachsenring.”

A nasty Saturday crash well and truly put a spanner in the works of Lorenzo’s preparations for the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix, a race that he would start from pole position after clocking a speedy qualifying lap just before the fall. A superhuman effort from both Lorenzo and his doctors powered the Spaniard to third place and kept up the pressure on Fiat Yamaha teammate Rossi in the standings.

“When I crashed yesterday, I thought that it was all over for the weekend,” admitted Lorenzo after stepping onto the podium, unable to even spray the celebratory cava due to a dislocated collarbone. He passed a late fitness test that also included a check on his leg, hit hard in the fall.

“Thanks to the work done by the doctors I was able to race, and we did well today. Finishing the race was a happy ending for us. I could have taken second place, but made a mistake when overtaking Valentino on the last corner. However, third place isn’t something to be sad about here, it’s something to be happy about.

"I’ve been told by the doctors that the tendon injury in the collarbone will take five to six weeks to heal, if everything passes without problems. We are going to try our best to be back in much better shape for Sachsenring.”

Stoner ran with the frontrunners for most of the race but although he tired in the final stages he stayed within touching distance of Fiat Yamaha pair Rossi and Lorenzo at the top of the standings courtesy of his fourth place.

A good ride from Nicky Hayden at his favourite track saw him register his first top five result since joining Ducati, the American rider finishing just ahead of a similarly revitalised Toni Elías (San Carlo Honda Gresini).

Colin Edwards (Monster Yamaha Tech 3), Chris Vermeulen (Rizla Suzuki), Randy de Puniet (LCR Honda) and Marco Melandri (Hayate Racing) completed the top 10.

There was disappointment for Andrea Dovizioso (Repsol Honda), who lost ground in the championship when he crashed out for the second race in succession on Lap 7. Indeed, only 12 riders completed the race as the likes of Gabor Talmacsi (Scot Racing), Loris Capirossi (Rizla Suzuki), Sete Gibernau (Grupo Francisco Hernando) and James Toseland (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) went home with DNFs to their names.

Race Results
1. Dani PEDROSA (SPA) Repsol Honda Team Honda 44:01.580 (157.433 km/h)
2. Valentino ROSSI (ITA) Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha +0.344
3. Jorge LORENZO (SPA) Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha +1.926
4. Casey STONER (AUS) Ducati Team Ducati +12.432
5. Nicky HAYDEN (USA) Ducati Team Ducati +21.663
6. Toni ELIAS (SPA) San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda +22.041
7. Colin EDWARDS (USA) Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha +30.201
8. Chris VERMEULEN (AUS) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki +32.857
9. Randy DE PUNIET (FRA) LCR Honda MotoGP Honda +40.325
10. Marco MELANDRI (ITA) Hayate Racing Team Kawasaki +48.028
11. Alex DE ANGELIS (RSM) San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda +48.810
12. Niccolo CANEPA (ITA) Pramac Racing Ducati +1:18.531
Not classified
Andrea DOVIZIOSO (ITA) Repsol Honda Team Honda +26 Laps
Sete GIBERNAU (SPA) Grupo Francisco Hernando Ducati +26 Laps
Loris CAPIROSSI (ITA) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki +29 Laps
Gabor TALMACSI (HUN) Scot Racing Team MotoGP Honda +29 Laps
Excluded
James TOSELAND (GBR) Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha