Rossi edges teammate Lorenzo to expand points lead as rivalry heats up

INDIANAPOLIS, July 20, 2009 – In the second great duel between Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo in the last five weeks, Rossi sent another clear message to his younger Fiat Yamaha teammate.

Not this time.

Rossi earned his fourth victory of the season and his third in the last four races, holding off teammate Lorenzo by just .0099 of a second July 19 to win the German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring. The intense race came just five weeks after Rossi edged Lorenzo with a last-corner pass June 14 to win the Grand Prix of Catalunya after the lead swapped four times in the last lap.

Since then, the relationship between Rossi and Lorenzo has become increasingly tense as they are one-two in the championship, with six-time MotoGP World Champion Rossi extending his lead to 14 points over his teammate.

“At the end, it came down to another incredible battle with Lorenzo, and I really had to be on top form, especially because he passed me when I wasn’t expecting it,” Rossi said. “Luckily I was able to take him back, and then I rode a perfect final lap with no mistakes. I think races like this are great for the sport.

“I think this was a great race for everyone because there were all four leading riders of the championship, fighting very closely and all in strong form.”

Dani Pedrosa finished third on a Repsol Honda, and Casey Stoner finished fourth on a Ducati. Stoner is third in points; Pedrosa fourth.

American Nicky Hayden finished eighth after starting a season-best fourth on his Ducati, and Colin Edwards finished ninth on his Yamaha Tech 3 machine.

2006 MotoGP World Champion Hayden crashed twice during the weekend, first in a massive high-side during torrential rain in qualifying Saturday and in the race warm-up Sunday.

In the race, Rossi led from pole, with Lorenzo slipping to sixth at the start. Stoner took the lead on Lap 7 and held it for the next 10 laps. But Rossi regained the lead on Lap 18, with Lorenzo climbing to second to start another head-to-head showdown between the teammates.

Lorenzo passed Rossi for the lead in Turn 1 on Lap 26. But “The Doctor” passed Lorenzo for the lead in the same spot on Lap 29 of the 30-lap race.

At the start of the final lap, Lorenzo tried a daring outside pass of Rossi that failed. 2008 Red Bull Indianapolis GP winner Rossi then rode a perfect line on the final lap to blunt any late passing attempt by Lorenzo.

The next race is the Grand Prix of Germany on Sunday, July 19 at Sachsenring. The second annual Red Bull Indianapolis GP is Sunday, Aug. 30 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.