Italian superstar Valentino Rossi won the Italian MotoGP here on Sunday to maintain his 100 percent record in his home race but only his first win since the second race of the campaign. The Yamaha rider, winning here for the sixth time, beat home Spain's Dani Pedrosa - recording his third podium finish of the season - while veteran Alex Barros of Brazil was third.
Australian Casey Stoner finished fourth but maintained his overall lead in the title race, holding a nine point advantage over Rossi. The vibrant Italian was overjoyed at sustaining his remarkable record in Italy. "Six wins in a row, eight in all, that's not bad," said Rossi. "To win here is always very special. There was a lot of yellow flags waving which motivated me even more.
"The weather helped us snd despite a bad start I remained calm because I had a good rhythm. "I had a good battle with Dani (Pedrosa) and the fact that Casey (Stoner) did not finish on the podium means the title race is wide open again in what is a very long campaign." Pedrosa was content with getting on the podium again after third in Qatar and second in Spain. "I tried to really push it but the bike was simply not repsonding," he said. "The next race is on my home turf of Barcelona (next weekend's Catalunya GP) and I hope to do even bettter there." Barros was ecstatic at his surprise podium finish. "It is crazy," said the 36-year-old.
"I had a really good rhythm and the bike was in great shape. MotoGP is getting as mad as Superbike (which he raced in last year)."
The lead changed numerous times in the opening eight laps as Loris Capirossi, Stoner and Pedrosa swapped the honours, though Capirossi dropped down the field to seventh on the eighth lap.
Rossi - known as the 'Doctor' - became the latest new leader with 15 laps remaining passing Pedrosa with Stoner in third while Barros - in his 264th race and on a second string Ducati - was riding a stormer of a race and moved up to fifth.