Buzzin MotoGP

Valentino Rossi - Fiat Yamaha 2009

Valentino Rossi took the Fiat Yamaha across the line yesterday, only just holding off the challenge from his Spanish team-mate Jorge Lorenzo.

Rossi started the Alice Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland in pole position and led the pack into the first corner ahead of Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa, who started from eighth on the grid, and Randy de Puniet on the LCR Honda, who crashed out later in the lap.

Alex de Angelis on the San Carlo Honda Gresini followed ahead of Lorenzo and second Repsol Honda rider Andrea Dovizioso, who had qualified in eleventh place.

Casey Stoner on the Marlboro Ducati, came through the pack first picking-off Pedrosa for second place on lap 5 before passing Rossi on lap 7 to lead the German MotoGP.  Stoner was unable to get away from the Italian and just ten laps later was once again passed by Rossi and then Lorenzo.

Lorenzo then began hunting-down Rossi and passed him with only five laps of the race remaining as Pedrosa passed Stoner for third place.

On the penultimate lap, Rossi’s late braking saw him once again in the lead and holding his line stopping his team-mate from re-passing to take the victory.

Pedrosa finished in third ahead of Stoner, with de Angelis taking the fifth place followed by Toni Elias on the San Carlo Honda Gresini.

Marco Melandri on the Hayate Racing Team bike claimed seventh place followed by Nicky Hayden on the second Ducati Marlboro in eighth, Colin Edwards on the Monster Tech3 Yamaha in ninth and team-mate James Toseland completing the top ten riders.

Andrea Dovizioso, retired on lap 25 after suffering tyre problems after running in fourth for a short time.

Pos  Rider             Bike              Time/Gap
 1.  Valentino Rossi   Yamaha          41m21.769s
 2.  Jorge Lorenzo     Yamaha          +   0.099s
 3.  Dani Pedrosa      Honda           +   2.899s
 4.  Casey Stoner      Ducati          +  10.226s
 5.  Alex de Angelis   Gresini Honda   +  21.522s
 6.  Toni Elias        Gresini Honda   +  30.852s
 7.  Marco Melandri    Hayate Kawasaki +  31.301s
 8.  Nicky Hayden      Ducati          +  31.726s
 9.  Colin Edwards     Tech 3 Yamaha   +  32.865s
10.  James Toseland    Tech 3 Yamaha   +  43.926s
11.  Loris Capirossi   Suzuki          +  57.375s
12.  Niccolo Canepa    Pramac Ducati   +1m00.539s
13.  Chris Vermeulen   Suzuki          +1m03.645s
14.  Mika Kallio       Pramac Ducati   +1m04.155s
15.  Gabor Talmacsi    Scot Honda      +    1 lap

Retirements:

     Andrea Dovizioso  Honda           25 laps
     Randy de Puniet   LCR Honda       0 laps