Today’s MotoGP race at Sachsenring offered something for everyone.
The race was red flagged after 9 laps when Jorge Lorenzo was leading in front of Dani Pedrosa by three tenths followed by Casey Stoner.
Randy de Puniet crashed out at the Castrol Omega turn and his bike remained on the track catching fire after being hit by Pramac Ducati’s Aleix Espargaro and Rizla Suzuki’s Alvaro Bautista who could not avoid the bike laying on the track.
DePuniet was hit by one of the flying bikes and was carried away in a stretcher and later diagnosed with compound fractures to his left tibia and fibula and will be operated on later today.
The 21 lap race restarted with four less riders on the starting grid because Espargaro and Bautista failed to return to their garages with their bikes and Colin Edwards who had crashed before the red flag.
Pedrosa got the hole shot followed by Jorge Lorenzo, Andrea Dovizioso, Casey Stoner, Nicky Hayden and Valentino Rossi.
with Mika Kallio crashing out in the first turn.
During lap 2 Lorenzo passed Pedrosa to take the lead, but the HRC Honda rider didn’t let up and tailed Lorenzo around the German track for seven laps and then passed him on turn 1, but Lorenzo returned the favour.
Pedrosa would once again pass his fellow countryman and then started opening up an impressive margin, hammering lap after lap and taking the circuit record.
Pedrosa flied under the chequered flag with a comfortable 3.
355s advantage over second place Jorge Lorenzo.
Third went to Casey Stoner, who with recovering Valentino Rossi offered viewers some of the best action so far.
The two riders exchange at least eight passes for the third spot on the podium until Stoner passed the Italian on the last corner, on the last lap.
Fifth went to Andrea Dovizioso followed by a growing Marco Simoncelli, who had a big moment, when he lost the rear of his Honda but managed to save it.
Seventh went to Nicky Hayden who battled with the two Italians.
Ben Spies took eighth with Hector Barbera in ninth and Marco Melandri closing out the top ten.
Loris Capirossi came in 11th and Alex de Angelis who returned to MotoGP to sub for Hiroshi Aoyama in Interwetten was 12th and last.
MotoGP Sachsenring Race Results:01- Dani Pedrosa – Repsol Honda Team – Honda RC212V – 21 laps in 28′50.
47602- Jorge Lorenzo – Fiat Yamaha Team – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 3.
35503- Casey Stoner – Ducati Marlboro Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP10 – + 5.
25704- Valentino Rossi – Fiat Yamaha Team – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 5.
62305- Andrea Dovizioso – Repsol Honda Team – Honda RC212V – + 17.
15806- Marco Simoncelli – San Carlo Honda Gresini – Honda RC212V – + 17.
75707- Nicky Hayden – Ducati Marlboro Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP10 – + 17.
93508- Ben Spies – Monster Yamaha Tech 3 – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 20.
95709- Hector Barbera – Paginas Amarillas Aspar – Ducati Desmosedici GP10 – + 22.
00010- Marco Melandri – San Carlo Honda Gresini – Honda RC212V – + 35.
21711- Loris Capirossi – Rizla Suzuki MotoGP – Suzuki GSV-R – + 45.
04212- Alex De Angelis – Interwetten Honda MotoGP – Honda RC212V – + 45.
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