Stoner wins German GP water fight

Sunday, 13th July 2008

Casey Stoner takes victory in a wet German GP; Dani Pedrosa falls while leading; Valentino Rossi on top of the world championship; Chris Vermeulen podium.
Casey Stoner has closed to within 20 points of new MotoGP World Championship leader Valentino Rossi after taking his third victory in a row, and fourth of the season, during Sundays wet German Grand Prix at Sachsenring.

Dani Pedrosa, who won the dry 2007 German GP by a massive 13.166secs, defied his wet weather weakness label by charging past pole sitter Stoner into turn one, then rocketing to a massive 7.4secs lead by the end of lap five of 30!

But Pedrosas incredible pace proved too fast for the conditions and when the Spaniard hit the brakes for turn one, the front wheel of his Repsol Honda slid abruptly away and he spiralled down the road and into his first retirement of the season.

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The mistake marked Pedrosas first DNF of the year, handed Stoner a 1.5secs race lead over Andrea Dovizioso and ultimately cost Dani the 2008 world championship lead.

Rossi, who qualified just seventh on the grid, made a cautious start but was up to fourth by the time of Pedrosas accident. The Fiat Yamaha star then overtook fellow M1 rider Colin Edwards for third on lap eight and passed rookie Dovizioso for second soon after.

The Italians swift progression suggested he could threaten Stoner, but the Australian responded to Rossis attack - initially consolidating his lead at three seconds, then pulling over five seconds clear before backing off to a 3.7secs victory margin by the end of a textbook wet weather ride.

Reigning world champion Stoner came into the event 29 points behind Pedrosa and 25 points from Rossi, but heads to next weekends US Grand Prix at Laguna Seca - the last race before the MotoGP summer break - just four points from Pedrosa and 20 points from Rossi.

Completing the podium alongside a satisfied Rossi and a sick-looking Stoner was Rizla Suzukis Chris Vermeulen.

The Australian wet weather ace lined-up just 14th on the 17 rider grid, but had passed Edwards for third as early as lap ten. The former WSS champion came under sustained attack from rookie Alex de Angelis during the closing stages, but held on to Suzukis first podium of the season by just 0.122secs. Fourth for de Angelis at least signalled his joint best MotoGP result to date.
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