MotoGP news

Win puts Rossi 75 points clear

Valentino Rossi's victory in the San Marino Grand Prix and the retirement of title rival and pole-sitter Casey Stoner, puts the Italian 75 points clear at the top of the riders' championship.

Rossi's win delighted his home fans who turned out in force at Misano. But at the start things didn't look good for the Italian. Stoner got off the line well and pulled out a comfortable gap until lap seven when he lost control of his Ducati and crashed out of the lead, just as he did a fortnight ago in Brno. 

From there, Rossi could simply cruise to the flag and secure his 68th win and equal the record of Moto GP legend Giacomo Agostini.

Jorge Lorenzo rounded off a perfect day for Yamaha as he returned to the podium in second place. Toni Elias brought his Alice Team bike home in third, holding off Repsol Honda's Dani Pedrosa who moves to within two points of Stoner in the championship.

Chris Vermeulen ended up sixth ahead of Toseland, Capirossi, Dovizioso, Melandri and Edwards. 

Alex de Angelis and Randy de Puniet both crashed out of the race early on.

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