British MotoGP 2009: Rossi crash, Dovizioso wins

Repsol Honda's Andrea Dovizioso claimed a maiden MotoGP win at a rain-affected British Grand Prix at Donnington Park.

Yahama Tech 3's Colin Edwards took second place ahead of Randy De Puniet of LCR Honda in third as the famous circuit bid farewell to MotoGP racing.

Valentino Rossi, who recovered from a fall with 11 laps remaining, pipped home favourite James Toseland to fifth, with Alex De Angelis crossing the line in fourth.

Rossi's title rival Jorge Lorenzo retired after an early crash while Casey Stoner had a race to forget as his Ducati Marlboro team sent both him and Nicky Hayden out on wet tyres, only for the rain to hold off until much later in the race.

Stoner ended the race in 14th with Hayden a place behind in last.

Overall championship leader Valentino Rossi failed to make the podium after crashing whilst in the lead, but still extended his advantage in the standings as he finished fifth while Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo went out early on.

Dovizioso was ecstatic to have given the team a much-needed victory.

"I won on the wet here in 2007 in the 250cc class, so I knew the conditions well," said the Italian.

"The emotion this tine is very different as it is in another class. The start of the season has not been easy so it gives me great pleasure to get this victory for the team," added Dovizioso, who was crowned world 125cc champion in 2004.

Edwards for his part bemoaned the fact that having changed tyres, they took too long to warm up which could have made a difference to between breaking his MotoGP duck after over a hundred races.

"I am too old for this s**t!" joked the 35-year-old.

"My tyres were too cold towards the end after I changed them (because it was raining). There was just not enough warmth in the tyres."

De Puniet was over the moon to have got onto the podium.

"It was a very good race for me," beamed the 28-year-old.

"It was pretty difficult. I had a big fight with Dani Pedrosa then Colin (Edwards) came up to me. It was very slippery out there but it is fantastic for me and the team to get onto the podium."

With both Lorenzo gone, and 2007 champion Casey Stoner struggling - he was to finish 14th - it left Rossi well out in the lead.

But holding a comfortable advantage, with 11 laps to go, the Italian came a cropper as he slid and crashed.

He was able to remount the bike and keep it going but returned to the fray in 11th and last position some 20 seconds down the field to new leader Dovizioso while de Puniet was in second.

The rain started to come down with eight laps remaining and several riders scrambled to change their tyres.

De Puniet really put his foot down and with four laps remaining he reduced the Italian's lead by three seconds whilst Rossi had moved up to sixth.

With three laps to go Dovizioso's lead was down to less than two seconds over de Puniet and Edwards but was able to stabilise it and hold on for a landmark victory.
AFP

Source: http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/26072009/58/dovizioso-wins-british-motogp.html

Race Live Standing

P. Driver Team Time 1 Andrea Dovizioso Honda HRC 48:26.267
2 Colin Edwards Yamaha Tech3 48:27.627
3 Randy De Puniet Honda LCR 48:27.867
4 Alex De Angelis Honda Gresini 48:35.225
5 Valentino Rossi Yamaha Factory 00:00:00.000
6 James Toseland Yamaha Tech3 00:00:00.000
7 Marco Melandri 川崎哈亚特 00:00:00.000
8 Niccolo Canepa Ducati Pramac 00:00:00.000
9 Daniel Pedrosa Honda HRC 00:00:00.000
10 Mika Kallio 杜卡迪普拉马克 49:12.112
11 Loris Capirossi Suzuki MotoGP 49:19.457
12 Gabor Talmacsi Honda Scot 49:38.582
13 Chris Vermeulen Suzuki MotoGP 49:46.665
14 Casey Stoner Ducati MotoGP 49:25.241
15 Nicky Hayden Ducati MotoGP 49:43.835
16 Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha Factory 00:00:00.000
17 Antonio Elias Honda Gresini 00:00:00.000

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