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Stoner extends lead with victory
Source: Agencies |
July 26, 2011, Tuesday
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AUSTRALIA'S Casey Stoner roared past MotoGP world champion Jorge Lorenzo on the 27th lap of 32 to win the US Grand Prix on Sunday in Montery, California, and stretch his lead in the overall standings.
Honda rider Stoner, who started the race just behind Yamaha's Lorenzo on the front grid, powered home to finish 5.634 seconds ahead of the Spaniard, who triumphed at Laguna Seca last year.
Stoner waved to the fans after crossing the finish line in dazzling sunshine, having extended his run of successive podiums this season to eight.
It was his fifth win of the year and increased his championship lead over Lorenzo to 20 points with eight races left.
Honda's Spaniard Dani Pedrosa, champion here in 2009 and winner of last week's German Grand Prix, finished in third place.
American Ben Spies gave the enthusiastic home fans something to celebrate by finishing fourth.
Stoner, who won here in 2007, was delighted to taste victory again at the twisting, technically challenging Laguna Seca circuit after struggling with his bike set-up earlier in the week.
Extreme pace
"It was amazing," the beaming 25-year-old said. "I am very happy. I love this track, love this atmosphere in America and I'm very happy to win here again.
"I just had an extreme pace before the start of the race and had a lot of confidence. All week, it's been tough but in the warm-up we found something and thought we could run with these guys."
Stoner was quickest in the morning's final practice session with a best lap of 1:21.747 in cool, overcast conditions.
"After that, I just had something inside knowing that I wasn't worried about him (Lorenzo) getting away," said Stoner, who dropped back into third early on before overtaking Pedrosa on the infamous Corkscrew turn on lap 17 and finally Lorenzo.
"I knew I had full pace and we were just waiting for later in the race. As soon as Dani started to drop back, that dropped us both off the back of Jorge and I thought: 'Right, now is the time to go and get up to Jorge.'
"I was behind Jorge and realized I could go a lot faster. I waited a few laps to see if he would make a mistake or do something and then decided to go and put the hammer down as much as I could. We managed to pull a nice gap."
Lorenzo failed to capitalize on a fast start and said he was still feeling bruised after crashing in practice on Saturday.
"The pain in my back and my arms was not good at the end of the race," the 24-year-old Spaniard added. "Casey deserved the victory."
Honda rider Stoner, who started the race just behind Yamaha's Lorenzo on the front grid, powered home to finish 5.634 seconds ahead of the Spaniard, who triumphed at Laguna Seca last year.
Stoner waved to the fans after crossing the finish line in dazzling sunshine, having extended his run of successive podiums this season to eight.
It was his fifth win of the year and increased his championship lead over Lorenzo to 20 points with eight races left.
Honda's Spaniard Dani Pedrosa, champion here in 2009 and winner of last week's German Grand Prix, finished in third place.
American Ben Spies gave the enthusiastic home fans something to celebrate by finishing fourth.
Stoner, who won here in 2007, was delighted to taste victory again at the twisting, technically challenging Laguna Seca circuit after struggling with his bike set-up earlier in the week.
Extreme pace
"It was amazing," the beaming 25-year-old said. "I am very happy. I love this track, love this atmosphere in America and I'm very happy to win here again.
"I just had an extreme pace before the start of the race and had a lot of confidence. All week, it's been tough but in the warm-up we found something and thought we could run with these guys."
Stoner was quickest in the morning's final practice session with a best lap of 1:21.747 in cool, overcast conditions.
"After that, I just had something inside knowing that I wasn't worried about him (Lorenzo) getting away," said Stoner, who dropped back into third early on before overtaking Pedrosa on the infamous Corkscrew turn on lap 17 and finally Lorenzo.
"I knew I had full pace and we were just waiting for later in the race. As soon as Dani started to drop back, that dropped us both off the back of Jorge and I thought: 'Right, now is the time to go and get up to Jorge.'
"I was behind Jorge and realized I could go a lot faster. I waited a few laps to see if he would make a mistake or do something and then decided to go and put the hammer down as much as I could. We managed to pull a nice gap."
Lorenzo failed to capitalize on a fast start and said he was still feeling bruised after crashing in practice on Saturday.
"The pain in my back and my arms was not good at the end of the race," the 24-year-old Spaniard added. "Casey deserved the victory."
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