From MotoGP files

Following the Grande Premio de Portugal on April 13th, Round 3 of the MotoGP championship, the battle for the lead is now clearly established between a veteran and a rookie that have in common to be both Spaniards.

Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa, winner in Jerez two weeks ago, took the provisional top spot with 41 points, demoting Casey Stoner from the head of the standings for the first time in over a year.

Not far behind is Fiat Yamaha's Jorge Lorenzo who trails by just five points, holding a perfect podium record from his first two races.

The reigning 250cc World Champion was impressive since the first race of the season and he has been the man to beat in qualifying after taking two poles in his maiden two races. He is the first rider to do so since qualifying records began in 1974.

The Fiat Yamaha duo of Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi currently lead the team standings. Italian Rossi took his 100th MotoGP podium in Jerez with second place. Rossi lies behind Lorenzo in the standings.

Champion Casey Stoner, who in Jerez had a disastrous weekend with eleventh place, is just one point behind Rossi. Stoner won the opening race of this season, the first MotoGP night race in Qatar.