Fans at the Spanish Grand Prix were witness to a tight victory for Casey Stoner, taking his first win on the new RC213V. The reigning MotoGP World Champion took advantage of his superior pace to maintain a lead and gradually extend a gap from the rest of the field, pursued only by his most persistent of rivals. All this came after a slow start for the Australian, who found himself in fifth after the opening corners.
Once he had the race under control, Stoner racked up a series of fastest laps that established a cushion between him and main contender Jorge Lorenzo. On the final laps the Spaniard had drawn closer, but Stoner held on to cross the line first, win for the first time at Jerez and move four points clear in the overall standings.
Teammate Dani Pedrosa had a fantastic start to take the holeshot, after taking off from second on the grid. His lead did not last long, however, as the Repsol Honda Team rider settled into third place and took a valuable third place and 16 points. He is currently third in the overall standings as well.
Results
1. Casey Stoner (AUS) Repsol Honda Team 45'33.897
2. Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) Yamaha Factory Racing + 00.947
3. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Repsol Honda Team + 2.063
4. Cal Crutchlow (GBR) Yamaha Tech3 + 2.465
5. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) Yamaha Tech3 + 18.100
6. Alvaro Bautista (SPA) Honda Gresini + 21.395
7. Stefan Bradl (GER) LCR Honda + 28.637
8. Nicky Hayden (USA) Ducati Team + 28.869
9. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Ducati Team + 34.852
10. Hector Barbera (SPA) Pramac Racing Team + 35.103
11. Ben Spies (USA) Yamaha Factory Racing + 38.041
12. Aleix Espargaro (SPA) Power Electronics Aspar + 1'12.728
13. Danilo Petrucci (ITA) Came Iodaracing Project + 1'18.669
14. Mattia Pasini (ITA) Speed Master + 1'29.142
15. Ivan Silva (SPA) Avintia Racing + 1'32.478
16. Colin Edwards (USA) NGM Mobile Forward Racing + 1'40.577
17. Karel Abraham (CZE) Cardion AB Motoracing After 1 laps
18. Randy De Puniet (FRA) Power Electronics Aspar Not classified (2 laps)
19. James Ellison (UK) Paul Bird Motorsport Not classified (3 laps)
20. Michele Pirro (ITA) San Carlo Honda Gresini Not classified (9 laps)
21. Yonny Hernandez (COL) Avintia Racing Not starting
Championship Standings
1 Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) Yamaha Factory Racing 45
2 Casey Stoner (AUS) Repsol Honda Team 41
3 Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Repsol Honda Team 36
4 Cal Crutchlow (GBR) Yamaha Tech3 26
5 Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) Yamaha Tech3 22
6 Alvaro Bautista (SPA) Honda Gresini 19
7 Nicky Hayden (USA) Ducati Team 18
8 Stefan Bradl (GER) LCR Honda 17
9 Valentino Rossi (ITA) Ducati Team 13
10 Hector Barbera (SPA) Pramac Racing Team 13
11 Ben Spies (USA) Yamaha Factory Racing 10
12 Aleix Espargaro (SPA) Power Electronics Aspar 5
13 Colin Edwards (USA) NGM Mobile Forward Racing 4
14 Randy De Puniet (FRA) Power Electronics Aspar 3
15 Danilo Petrucci (ITA) Came Iodaracing Project 3
16 Mattia Pasini (ITA) Speed Master 2
17 Yonny Hernandez (COL) Avintia Racing 2
18 Ivan Silva (SPA) Avintia Racing 1
