Dani Pedrosa (Honda) won the race almost easily, disappointing many fans who wanted to see local favourite Ben Spies (Yamaha) take his first ever MotoGP victory.

The Honda works rider trimmed 9 points off third-place finisher Jorge Lorenzo’s lead in the championship, as Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) ended up fourth overall, ahead of Andrea Dovizioso (Honda) and a well beaten Nicki Hayden, qualified third and ending up 35 seconds adrift of the winner on his Ducati.

At the exit of the first corner, Pedrosa was down in fourth behind surprise pole-sitter Spies, fast-starter Dovizioso and Nicky Hayden's Ducati.

While Pedrosa picked off the fading Hayden and then Dovizioso, Spies settled in at the front of the field as Pedrosa ran him down. By lap six, the diminutive Spaniard was right on Spies' tail - drafting past with apparent ease and then pulling away.

Ducati had a disappointing race, as Hayden could not match his qualifying form, while an unhappy going-to-Honda-in-2011 Casey Stoner dropped to ninth on lap one, recovered several positions and then crashed while chasing Rossi for fifth.

MotoGP Indianapolis - Results
Pos Rider Team Time/Gap
1. Dani Pedrosa Honda 47m31.615s
2. Ben Spies Yamaha + 3.575s
3. Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha + 6.812s
4. Valentino Rossi Yamaha + 12.633s
5. Andrea Dovizioso Honda + 21.885s
6. Nicky Hayden Ducati + 35.138s
7. Etc…

MotoGP Standings – After 11 of 18 rounds
Pos. Rider Bike Points
1. Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha 251
2. Dani Pedrosa Honda 183
3. Andrea Dovizioso Honda 126
4. Casey Stoner Ducati 119