Spain's Dani Pedrosa snatched the runners-up spot in the MotoGP
world championship with victory in the season-ending Valencia
Grand Prix while rival Valentino Rossi retired because of a
technical problem.
It was the first time that five-times world champion Rossi had
finished outside the top two in any category since claiming ninth
place in his rookie season in the 125cc class in 1996.
Pedrosa, who crossed the line over five seconds ahead of newly
crowned world champion Casey Stoner, became the first rider to
win at Valencia on all three classes with his emphatic victory over
the Australian. The Honda rider finished the season a point ahead
of Yamaha rival Rossi who started the race despite breaking his
right hand in three places during a crash in qualifying.
Third in today's race was Suzuki's American rider John Hopkins
while his Australian team-mate Chris Vermeulen was sixth. Fellow
Australian Anthony West was in 16th and last place on his
Kawasaki. Vermeulen was sixth in the championship and West
15th after moving up from the 250cc class early in the season.
theage.com.au