Pedrosa takes Moto GP champiohsip lead

The Netherlands Grand Prix at Assen over the weekend was Round 9 of the MotoGP World Championship.

In a race packed with drama at both start and finish Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda RC212V) took control of the World Championship with a sound ride to second behind runaway winner Casey Stoner (Ducati). Colin Edwards (Yamaha) finished third when Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda RC212V) ran into machine trouble on the final lap. Edwards snatched the rostrum spot on the line as Hayden coasted forlornly across. Uncertain weather was a factor in both the 125cc and 250cc Grands Prix held prior to this 26-lap race around the sinuous 4.555km Circuit van Drenthe, but the track remained dry despite brooding skies throughout this eventful MotoGP race.

Dani launched his RCV off the line clinically quickly and headed the pack into turn one with Stoner inches behind him and Nicky fending off Shinya Nakano (San Carlo Honda Gresini RC212V) in 4th, the Japanese having burst through the field from 9th on the grid. As the riders filed into the slow left-hand Horseshoe turn Valentino Rossi (Yamaha), who had not enjoyed the best of starts, lost control of his machine and collected the blameless Randy de Puniet (LCR Honda RC212V) in the crash. Rossi restarted, De Puniet could not.

Another lap one victim, this time of his own invention, was Alex de Angelis (San Carlo Honda Gresini RC212V). With two Honda men down and out, there was encouragement at the front of the race with Dani, Nicky, Nakano and Andrea Dovizioso (JiR Scot Honda RC212V) in the top five.

None would be able to make any impression on Stoner however. The Aussie World Champion relieved Dani of the lead at the end of lap one and was never again troubled as he powered to a decisive win, his third of this 2008 campaign.

Nicky harried Dani for 2nd early in this race, but in only his second outing on the pneumatic-valve-engined RC212V he had to consolidate 3rd as the contest wore on. It looked as if the Kentucky Kid would achieve his first podium of the season, but he would be denied - freewheeling to the flag as Edwards sped past. But the signs for the new machine are encouraging, despite today's disappointment.

Nakano rode his strongest race so far this season but faded in the second half to come home 8th. It was an encouraging performance from this intense campaigner. Dovi road another strong race to finish 5th and confirm his status as the most successful of the Honda satellite riders so far.

There were just 13 riders on track in the final laps, laps where Rossi overhauled Sylvain Guintoli (Ducati) to take 11th place and garner a valuable five points after all looked lost on lap one. Of concern to all World Championship hopefuls will be the margin of Stoner's victory - 11.3 seconds.

The implications for the World Championship are substantial: Dani now heads the standings after another podium, his eighth in nine races, with 171 points, Rossi sits 2nd on 167 and Stoner now looks a serious title threat with 142 points and the momentum of a winner of consecutive races.

Dani Pedrosa, Repsol Honda:

"I'm happy with this result because it was a difficult race and I'm happy to be in the World Championship lead once again, the 20 points we got here are very important. We've struggled a little bit during practice here, but my team have worked really hard, so a big thanks to all of them. Yesterday I was able to qualify on a MotoGP front row for the first time at Assen. Today I did my best in the race but unfortunately we couldn't go with Casey because he was so fast. Now we need to keep working hard because we must try to close the gap over the next few races. Sachsenring is next. We had a great win there last year and we will try to the same again this year."

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