In front of over 123,000 Spanish fans at Jerez, Valentino Rossi took his first victory of the season and headed to the top of the standings chart with 11 points over 2nd place Casey Stoner.
After yesterday’s qualifying, where a very upset Italian was 0,7s off the pole from his team mate Jorge Lorenzo and claiming that he couldn’t win this race, started fourth on the grid, and when the lights went out, Dani Pedrosa powerhoused his Honda to the lead trailed by Casey Stoner and Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi.
Rossi passed Lorenzo on lap two and then went off to hunt down Stoner who was already a second ahead.
Little by little over the next five laps, Rossi gained on the Aussi rider and on the 7th lap overtook Stoner.
Stoner fought back but was again overtaken and then out of the running.