 Valentino Rossi today won dramatic Grand Prix of Catalunya, which started with terrific crash in the first corner, resulting in race being red-flagged. Crash was initiated by Sete Gibernau tumbling over handlebars of his Ducati, which was result of his contact with team-mate, Capirossi. Gibernau's Ducati picked few riders on his route, resulting in gravel trap full of riders. Out of race were Gibernau, Capirossi, Melandri, Pedrosa, De Puniet and Hopkins, from which Capirossi, Gibernau and Melandri were not able to restart due to injuries.
Race start was delayed, and after another warm-up lap, start was once more delayed as Suzuki of Chris Vermeulen died on Grid. Riders took another warm-up lap, and race director decided that race will be 24 instead of 25 laps. Second start was successfull, and Stoner got into the lead, in front of Hopkins and Hayden. Valentino Rossi did not have great start and ended first lap in 5th position.
Rossi immediatelly started making up positions, as well as Dani Pedrosa, who was now using his spare bike because his number one bike was damaged in crash. It took 8 laps for Rossi to go in front of Stoner, who now had Hayden behind him. Meanwhile, Shinya Nakano earned blag flag as he did not do ride-through penalty for start from wrong position. In the same lap De Puniet crashed, completing disaster for Kawasaki team.
Casey Stoner crashed just lap after loosing first position, giving second place to Hayden, who stayed on Rossi's tail. In the background, Kenny Roberts Junior and his ex team-mate had great battle for the final podium position. Dani Pedrosa was in 5th position before having another crash and ending hopes for at least podium finish in his home Grand Prix. Lap before, another local rider, Toni Elias, crashed from the race.
Nicky Hayden stayed close behing Rossi for a while, but Rossi managed to open gap to him in last quarter of the race and win his third race of the season. Hayden finished in second, retaining his championship lead, now 29 points ahead of Rossi. Kenny Roberts won duel with John Hopkins and earned first podium finish for Team KR this season. Hopkins equaled his best career finish in fourth, ahead of Edwards in 5th. Vermeulen ended race in 6th place, bringing some valuable poitns for Suzuki. Tamada edged Checa for 7th place, with James Ellison, Alex Homann and Jose Luis Cardoso finishing in 9th, 10th and 11th.
Championship standings
Catalunya race results
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