The original race that saw Pedrosa contesting for the lead with Jorge Lorenzo was red flagged after 9 laps due to a chain crash involving Randy De Puniet, Alvaro Bautista and Aleix Espargaro.
Pedrosa was second when the race stopped and then re-started. Between the two races, however, the Repsol Honda crew concluded small tweaks to the Spaniard’s suspension settings. This helped Pedrosa finally finish first, over 3 seconds ahead of Lorenzo.
“I’m very happy because we are back winning races and it’s a great feeling. It wasn’t easy today because when the race is stopped and restarted like that, sometimes you don’t have the same feeling on the machine in the second part. Also you get nervous again on the grid and it’s possible you won’t have the same pace after the restart,” Pedrosa stated for the press.
The podium was completed by Casey Stoner (Ducati) who dueled Rossi, winning a last-corner tight fight, surpassing the reigning champ. Rossi was back for the first time since breaking his right leg and was extremely close to clinching a podium finish.
“This victory is even better than the one in Italy because at Mugello I just went away in front and there was no battle with anybody, but here I was battling with Lorenzo in the first and second races, and I finally beat him, so this is even more important,” the Spaniard added.
Pedrosa is currently second in world championship standings with 138 points, while Lorenzo leads with 185 points, and Dovizioso third with 102 points.
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