Andrea Dovizioso (Honda) claimed his first ever MotoGP victory in a race that started in the dry and went to wet, making for a surprising finish behind the winner.

At the end, Dovizioso was barely able to fend off attacks from Colin Edwards (Yamaha) and Randy de Puniet (Honda) who were closing on him fast in heavy rain, hanging on for a win a mere 1.3 seconds ahead of the chasing pair.

Pole sitter Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) was battling Dovizioso when he fell in the rain. Finishing 5th was enough for Rossi build his Championship lead up to 25 points, as his three main pursuers also ran into worse problems. Rossi’s teammate Jorge Lorenzo crashed out while Dani Pedrosa (Honda) had serious handling problems in the worsening rain over the last laps of the race. As for Casey Stoner (Ducati) and team mate Nicki Hayden, they gambled on wets at the start while the rest of the field started on dry tires. The rains did not come soon enough, and the field built up a big lead while Stoner was slowed by his unsuitable rain tires. He never recovered and ended the race one lap down.

Edwards, Dovizioso and De Puniet on the podium at Donington.

Dovizioso managed to overtake Rossi before doing the same to Lorenzo and Elias (Honda) to grab the lead on the third lap.

Then Lorenzo got back at the front on lap 6, but it only lasted for three laps before he crashed followed down by Toni Elias on lap 10. Rossi got the lead back, with Dovizioso right behind him for the following 11 laps, until the reigning world champion lost the rear of his Yamaha in the chicane when the rain increased. It was then up to Dovizioso to hang on in front of Edwards and de Puniet, which he did.

The next race will be held at Brno, in the Czech Republic, on July 16th.

MotoGP Donington Park Race- Results
Pos Rider Bike Time/Gap
1. Andrea Dovizioso Honda 48m26.267s
2. Colin Edwards Yamaha + 1.360s
3. Randy de Puniet Honda + 1.600s
4. Alex de Angelis Honda + 8.958s
5. Valentino Rossi Yamaha + 21.622s
6. James Toseland Yamaha + 22.465s
7.Etc………

MotoGP Standings – After the British GP
Pos Rider Points
1. Valentino Rossi 187
2. Jorge Lorenzo 162
3. Casey Stoner 150
4. Dani Pedrosa 115
5. Colin Edwards 103



Photo Credit : MotoGP