Pedrosa takes maiden 2012 win as Lorenzo extends lead

Dani Pedrosa fought off a strong challenge from his Repsol Honda teammate Casey Stoner to take his first win of the year at the German MotoGP on Sunday.

The two drivers were neck and neck in the final stages of the race at the Sachsenring, but the Australian world champion pushed too hard and spun off on the final lap.

The mistake handed second place to Jorge Lorenzo, who now enjoys some clear space atop the overall rider’s standings on 160 points, 14 ahead of Pedrosa, who leapfrogs Stoner into second. Last weekend in the Netherlands, it was Lorenzo who crashed out and Stoner who leveled up the overall points situation with a comfortable win.

Italy’s Andrea Dovizioso was third on the Tech 3 Yamaha and American Ben Spies was fourth for Yamaha. Spain’s Álvaro Bautista (Gresini Honda) and Héctor Barberá (Pramac Ducati) were seventh and 10th, respectively.

Pedrosa, who has now won in Germany for the past three years in a row, got the best of pole sitter Stoner at the start, but the champion soon regained the lead. The pair gradually stretched out in front with Lorenzo’s Yamaha some way behind, ahead of the chasing pack. Pedrosa moved ahead again with 12 laps to go, leading to a tense battle that only ended with Stoner’s dramatic exit in the final turns.

Marc Márquez, who is set to step up to the top category as Pedrosa’s Honda teammate next season, took victory in the Moto2 race ahead of Finland’s Mika Kallio and San Marino’s Alex de Angelis. It was the Team CatalunyaCaixa Repsol rider’s fourth win of the year, taking him 43 points clear in the overall standings above fellow Spaniard Pol Espargaró, who finished fourth at the Sachsenring.

In the Moto3 race, Sandro Cortese took the win in front of his home crowd ahead of Frenchman Alexis Masbou and Spain’s Luis Salom. The German Red Bull KTM Ajo rider leads the championship on 148 points with Spain’s Maverick Viñales second on 130.