Sunday, 1 July 2012

Superb Stoner wins Dutch GP

Mirco Lazzari / Getty Images
Motorsport News: Casey Stoner, Repsol Honda


Casey Stoner drew level with Jorge Lorenzo in the MotoGP title race after winning the Dutch Grand Prix in Assen.
Lorenzo saw his 25-point championship lead wiped out by Stoner after he was taken out by Alvaro Bautista on the first corner of the race.
Stoner started from pole position and held off his Repsol Honda team-mate Dani Pedrosa to win, with Andrea Dovizioso claiming third place after overtaking Ben Spies on the final lap.
The Australian drew level with Lorenzo on 140 points in the MotoGP title standings with Pedrosa third on 121 and Britain's Cal Crutchlow fourth with 77.
Crutchlow, racing two weeks after breaking his ankle, was hampered by the early crash and dropped back to 15th place but he recovered well to finish fifth.
Stoner told BBC Sport after his third win of the season: "I didn't see that Lorenzo had crashed as I was focused on the fight at the front but what a difference a day makes.
"I had a big crash in practice on Friday but we managed to pull through for the race. Today has worked out perfectly for me."
Lorenzo was left furious with Bautista for the collision, an incident which has been placed under investigation by race officials
Stoner later Tweeted: "I feel sorry for @lorenzo99 he doesn't deserve that to happen and I don't want points that way. Thanks for everyone's support today!!"
The two Honda riders dominated the race and Stoner took the lead from Pedrosa with 10 laps remaining.
Some of the most exciting action came from watching Crutchlow pick his way through the field and then battle past Hector Barbera, Valentino Rossi and then Nicky Hayden to finish a creditable fifth.
Dovizioso caught up with Spies with three laps remaining and the pair were involved a thrilling tussle for the final podium position.
Dovizioso made his move heading into turn one of the final lap and then held his advantage to claim third place.
Race officials later demoted Bautista to the back of the grid for the next race at the Sachsenring in Germany on July 8 as punishment for causing the crash.
An appeal by Bautista's team, San Carlo Gresini Honda, against the punishment was dismissed.

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