Valentino Rossi has moved into the lead of the 2007 MotoGP championship with a dominant victory in the Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez.
The Yamaha rider dived past polesitter Dani Pedrosa on the first lap, and although the Spaniard was able to stay with Rossi at first, a mid-race charge by the multiple champion put him out of Pedrosa's reach.
Rossi's teammate Colin Edwards chased Pedrosa home for third, while Qatar winner Casey Stoner came alive in the second half of the race and charged from ninth to fifth, finishing right on the tail of fourth-placed Toni Elias.
World champion Nicky Hayden ran fourth initially after an outstanding start, but could not maintain his pace and slipped back to seventh at the flag.
Full report and results to follow shortly...
Leading results:
Pos Rider Bike Time
1. Rossi Yamaha 45:53.340
2. Pedrosa Honda + 1.246
3. Edwards Yamaha + 2.701
4. Elias Honda + 4.351
5. Stoner Ducati + 4.993
6. Checa Honda + 10.000
7. Hayden Honda + 14.146
8. Melandri Honda + 19.969
9. Vermeulen Suzuki + 24.786
10. Nakano Honda + 24.955
<span style="color:#000000<span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%<u>My Rider's Race Report</u>
1. V.Rossi = A
2. D.Pedrosa = A
3. C.Edwards = A
4. T.Elias = A
5. C.Stoner = A
6. C.Checa = A
7. N.Hayden = B-
8. M.Melandri = B
9. C.Vermeulen = B
10. S.Nakano = B