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Pedrosa wins MotoGP at sweltering Sachsenring

Spanish driver Dani Pedrosa, front, leads the pack shortly after the start of the German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring circuit, in Hohenstein-Ernstthal, yesterday. PHOTO: AP

Dani Pedrosa got back to winning ways for Honda yesterday when he cruised to victory in the MotoGP category at the German Grand Prix at a sweltering Sachsenring.

Pedrosa overtook pole sitter Casey Stoner early in the race and finished more than ten seconds ahead of Italy's Loris Capirossi, riding a Ducati, and US Honda rider Nicky Hayden. Colin Edwards of the US finished fourth on a Yamaha

It ended a barren spell for the 21-year-old Spaniard going back to the British Grand Prix in July last year.

Pedrosa achieved his first victory in China last year after moving up to the MotoGP category but had so far failed to reach the top of the podium this season.

"It was unreal," Pedrosa said in a televised interview. "I did the maximum until about five laps to go."

poor races

Championship rivals Stoner and Valentino Rossi both had poor races with the Australian finishing fifth after suffering problems with his Bridgestone tyres in the searing heat.

Seven-time world champion Rossi crashed attempting to overtake Frenchman Randy De Puniet on a corner on lap six.

It was Rossi's first retirement this season. The Italian had reignited his title bid by winning the Dutch Moto GP two weeks ago.

Stoner's championship lead has as a result increased from 21 points to 32.

Marco Melandri of Italy, finished sixth on a Honda.

John Hopkins of the US was seventh and Australian Anthony West finished eighth.

The riders had to endure extreme heat with track temperatures in the morning recorded at 47oC.

250cc winner

Earlier Japanese rider Hiroshi Aoyama of KTM won the 250cc category ahead of Finland's Mika Kallio and Alex De Angelis of San Marino.

Aoyama achieved the fourth success of his career and first this year.

Championship leader Jorge Lorenzo of Spain fought back from a bad start to finish fourth and hold a 20-point advantage on De Angelis.

In the 125cc race, Aprilia rider Gabor Talmacsi of Hungary grabbed the overall world championship lead after winning ahead of Japan's KTN rider Tomoyoshi Koyama.

Aprilia's Hector Faubel of Spain finished third.
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