Three-time world champion Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) took a stunning victory at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, leaving rivals Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) in the dust to complete the podium. Pedrosa’s victory marks the eighth different winner in 2016, an all-time first since the championship began in 1949 – and he did it from eighth on the grid.
Lorenzo got the jump from pole, leading the field into Turn 1 as the Mallorcan so often does, with front row starter Rossi and Maverick Viñales (Team Suzuki Ecstar) going head-to-head for P2 and the Italian coming out on top. Pedrosa got an incredible start from P8 to move him up into the front group, joining Viñales, Dovizioso and Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) in the squabble for P3.
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Rossi soon struck at the front, sitting up teammate Lorenzo at the final corner and pushing the reigning champion wide, taking the lead and leaving Lorenzo and Marquez to chase him down – with Pedrosa the fastest man on track and setting a new lap record. Making a move against his teammate look easy and getting down into the 1:32s, Pedrosa was on the charge.
Setting his sights on Lorenzo and slicing through, the number 26 fixed his crosshairs on the race leader in Rossi’s backyard – then passing the Italian with an aggressive move to sit him up and concentrating on making a gap at the front.
Untouchable and back with a bang, the incredible ride through from P8 was completed as the ‘Baby Samurai’ shook off a helpless Rossi to cross the line with a healthy margin, as history continues to be made with the eighth different winner in 2016.
Marquez suffered a tough race to head over the line in P4, but retains a healthy 43 point lead in the title as the paddock head back to Spanish soil. Viñales completed the top five, beating home rider Dovizioso and temporary teammate Michele Pirro (Ducati Team) to the honour. Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) had a solid ride to cross the line P8 ahead of Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider Pol Espargaro, and it was a fantastic showing from Alvaro Bautista in Aprilia Racing Team Gresini’s home race as the Spaniard completed the top ten.
MotorLand Aragon now awaits: no longer enemy territory for Pedrosa, Marquez or Lorenzo as the flyways approach.
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