Pedrosa halts Rossi’s win streak at home, closes on points lead

INDIANAPOLIS, Sunday, June 8, 2008 – Dani Pedrosa came home and returned to the top of the podium June 8, winning the Catalunya Grand Prix to stop Valentino Rossi’s hot streak and edge closer to the top of the MotoGP point standings.

Spaniard Pedrosa earned his second victory in as many races on home soil this season by winning at the Catalunya circuit near Barcelona, Spain. He also won the Spanish Grand Prix on March 30 at Jerez.

“I couldn’t believe the fans,” Pedrosa said of the throng at Catalunya. “It seems like every year there are more and more. I’m very happy they were here because I know it was difficult to get into the track today. I was all alone, pushing to go faster and faster, and I could see everyone cheering me on.”

Pedrosa, who started second, rode his Repsol Honda Team Honda/Michelin to a 2.806-second victory over Rossi, who entered this event on a three-race winning streak. Pedrosa passed pole sitter Casey Stoner before the first corner of the 25-lap race after a strong start and never trailed thereafter.

Stoner ended up third after a spirited duel with Rossi for second for most of the race. Stoner suffered from low rear-tire traction throughout the race on his Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati/Bridgestone and couldn’t beat Rossi, who made a strong climb from a disappointing qualifying performance of ninth on his Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha/Bridgestone.

“I want to watch the race on TV now because I had a lot of fun today and made some good overtakes,” Rossi said.

Pedrosa’s victory helped him climb to within seven points of leader Rossi in the series standings. Rookie sensation Jorge Lorenzo kept third place in the points despite missing this event due to injuries to his head and hand in a practice crash June 6. Lorenzo remains hospitalized and will undergo a skin graft on his finger June 9.

American riders Colin Edwards, Nicky Hayden and John Hopkins suffered from a variety of physical and mechanical problems during the race. Edwards finished fifth, Hayden eighth and Hopkins 10th.

Edwards, from Houston, qualified fifth. But his Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha/Michelin started suffering from a mysterious traction problem on the first lap.

Hayden, from Owensboro, Ky., qualified third but slipped back during the race due to excessive tire wear on his Repsol Honda Team Honda/Michelin.

Hopkins, from Ramona, Calif., struggled during the race with a painful back injury suffered in a crash during practice Friday on his Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki/Bridgestone.

The next race is the Grand Prix of Great Britain on June 22 at Donington Park, England. The inaugural Red Bull Indianapolis GP is Sept. 14 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.