Rossi wins Jerez GP

Valentino Rossi has returned to dominance with victory at the Spanish GP at Jerez, having taken the lead from polesitter Dani Pedrosa on the first lap.

Rossi was able to eke out a lead with small gains each lap from Pedrosa, despite the best efforts of the Repsol Honda rider. Completing a good day for the Fiat Yamaha team was Colin Edwards finishing third. Rossi’s relief was obvious, and the Italian celebrated by knocking down some human skittles in a typical panto moment.

By contrast it was another disapointing race for reigning champion Nicky Hayden, who dropped back to seventh, following a good start that saw him as high as fourth place. The first rider to make his way past, John Hopkins, lost the front end of the Rizla Suzuki, but remounted, and Hayden was then demoted by Elias, Stoner and Checa.

Alex Hoffmann was black flagged after switching bikes due to mechanical problems, while Kenny Roberts Jr dropped places in the closing laps, parking his bike immediately after crossing the line.

Race positions:

1 Valentino ROSSI
2 Dani PEDROSA
3 Colin EDWARDS
4 Toni ELIAS
5 Casey STONER
6 Carlos CHECA
7 Nicky HAYDEN
8 Marco MELANDRI
9 Chris VERMEULEN
10 Shinya NAKANO
11 Alex BARROS
12 Loris CAPIROSSI
13 Randy DE PUNIET
14 Makoto TAMADA
15 Sylvain GUINTOLI
16 Kenny ROBERTS
17 Kousuke AKIYOSHI
18 Olivier JACQUE
19 John HOPKINS
 Alex HOFMANN

Championship positions:

1. Rossi 45.

2. Stoner 36.

3. Pedrosa 36.

4. Edwards 26.

5. Melandri 19.

6. Hayden 17.

7. Vermeulen 16.

8. Elias 15.

9. Hopkins 13.

10. Barros 12.