Even though he was not starting from pole, Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) tried his best to earn his 8th victory in a row at the Italian Grand Prix in Mugello, but in the end, Casey Stoner (Ducati) made off with his first ever victory at this venue.

The race began on a wet track with Stoner bursting into the lead after pole-sitter Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) had crashed on the formation lap, then got a horrible start. Chris Vermeulen (Suzuki) overtook the Ducati rider in the early stages, after which the two were joined by Andrea Dovizioso (Honda) in a three way battle for the lead, with Rossi and Marco Melandri (Kawasaki) just behind them.

Dovizioso passed both Vermeulen and Stoner on lap three, and as the track began to dry, Rossi and Melandri were also able to pass the Suzuki and Ducati.

Melandri soon started falling down the order on the dry track, while Rossi – on a harder tire than most other riders - was passed by Stoner and Suzuki's Loris Capirossi, who took up the chase to Dovizioso who was by now in the lead.

Both Capirossi and Dovizioso faded at the end, while Yamaha riders Lorenzo and Rossi charged back through to second and third at the flag, behind a triumphant Stoner.

MotoGP Italy
Round 5 - Mugello Results
Pos Rider Bike Time
1. Casey Stoner Ducati 45m41.894s
2. Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha + 1.001s
3. Valentino Rossi Yamaha + 2.076s
4. Andrea Dovizioso Honda + 2.129s
5. Loris Capirossi Suzuki + 3.274s
6. Colin Edwards Yamaha + 24.451s
7. …..


MotoGP Rider Championship (After 5 of 17 rounds)

Pos Rider Points

1-Casey Stoner 90
2-Jorge Lorenzo 86
3-Valentino Rossi 81
4-Dani Pedrosa 57
5-Andrea Dovizioso 56
6-………….




Photo Credit : Ducati