Pedrosa wins San Marino GP

MISANO: Spanish rider Dani Pedrosa riding a Honda won the San Marino MotoGP to record two successive victories in the category for the first time. His victory, though, was overshadowed by the death of Japanese Moto2 star Shoya Tomizawa, who died following injuries he sustained in the earlier race.

Pedrosa started from pole and never relinquished his grip and came home for his fourth victory of the campaign ahead of overall leader and compatriot Jorge Lorenzo on a Yamaha. Italy’s multi-time champion Valentino Rossi, also on a Yamaha, was third.

The Spaniard made no mistake at the start and Lorenzo briefly lost his place as Casey Stoner passed him on the first corner.

While Pedrosa opened a four-second lead over Lorenzo with 17 laps to go, there was a terrific battle going on behind with Yamaha’s Rossi finally getting the better of Stoner on his Ducati. Stoner was falling down the field at an alarming rate as he was then passed easily by Italian Andrea Dovizioso.

Loris Capirossi’s 200th Grand Prix in the elite class came to an end on only the second corner along with American Nicky Hayden. Capirossi stormed away - as the accident saw his little finger ground down to the bone - having remonstrated at Hayden, who had caused the accident by edging out when there was no room and sending the Italian flying.

Published in The Express Tribune, September  6^th, 2010.