Another 1-2 for Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa

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The Repsol riders dominate the race, with Stoner first and Pedrosa second. Bad luck for Andrea Dovizioso, who crashed in the first lap. The Repsol Honda Team takes its 100th victory.

The Aragon Grand Prix was the scene of a very special day for the Repsol Honda Team, as it gathered its 100th victory thanks to the clear dominion shown by Casey Stoner on this round. Wearing the design created by Spanish designer David Delfín for this occasion, the Australian took the first step of the podium accompanied by his team mate Dani Pedrosa, who was second. For Andrea Dovizioso the race did not last a whole lap, as he crashed in the second corner.

The day was to be a big party at the Repsol Honda Team box, specially decorated for the third round of the season taking place in Spain. With the bikes and overalls of Stoner, Pedrosa and Dovizioso showing a spectacular design by Davidelfin, the Repsol riders started from the first row with Pedrosa taking the lead in the first braking point from Stoner, who also saw Spies overtaking him before reaching the second corner. Nevertheless, the Australian surpassed him just a few corners later and took the second place on his way to catch Dani Pedrosa, overtaking him before the end of the first lap.

A first lap that Andrea Dovizioso was not able to finish, as he crashed in the second corner. The Italian started from fifth place and, after the first corner, which is always complicated, Nicky Hayden forced him to take the second corner on the outside. Taking the corner on the dirty part of the track, the steering was blocked and he was not able to avoid the crash.

From that moment on, there were no more troubles in the race for Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa, who progressed steadily on their way to another 1-2, the fifth of the season for the Repsol Honda Team riders. Stoner increased his advantage over Pedrosa tenth after tenth and the Spaniard did the same over their rivals, until they crossed the Finish line in the first two positions with a comfortable advantage over the rest. With this result, the Repsol Honda Team reaches the significant number of 100 victories in the Motorcycling World Championship.

A feat that also allows Casey Stoner to increase his lead on top of the overall standings of the Motorcycling World Championship, which is now of 44 points over Jorge Lorenzo. Dani Pedrosa, fourth, reduces to 15 his difference to the third position, which is still for Andrea Dovizioso. 

Jorge Lorenzo made the weekend’s hard work count today, taking his first ever Aragon Grand Prix podium with third place. Having dropped from fourth on the grid in the early laps, the reigning World Champion gradually picked up the pace, running well under his qualifying time to gradually reel in the front runners. By lap 10 he had caught both his team mate Ben Spies and Marco Simoncelli, passing them both to take third which he held to the line. The results mean the gap to Championship leader Stoner has now increased again to 44 with four races remaining of the season.

Fellow Yamaha Factory Racing rider Spies had probably his best start of the season so far, shooting off the line to outride both Stoner and Dani Pedrosa for the lead into turn one. Having then dropped to third the Texan was maintaining a gap to fourth, scoring the third fastest lap of the race on lap four with a 1’49.593. A dramatic drop off in grip on the sixth lap then affected his pace. He was passed by team mate Lorenzo and then Simoncelli, dropping to fifth place. The result sees Spies retain fifth in the Championship standings, now 24 points behind Pedrosa in fourth as they head to Motegi next week.