MOTOGP » Pedrosa wins Brno showdown, Crutchlow podium

Dani Pedrosa wins the Czech Republic MotoGP at Brno with a last turn pass on Jorge Lorenzo, Cal Crutchlow claims first podium.
Pedrosa wins Brno showdown, Crutchlow podium
Dani Pedrosa took a last turn victory over MotoGP title leader Jorge Lorenzo during a finish to the Czech Republic Grand Prix at Brno which also saw Cal Crutchlow claim his first podium in third.

Lorenzo had dived under Pedrosa to retake the lead through the stadium section on the final lap, only for Pedrosa to draw back alongside on the uphill run to the last chicane.

Both hit the brakes at the last possible moment, with Lorenzo trying to hold on around the outside. But Pedrosa had the better line and clung on to claim surely his best ever MotoGP victory by just 0.178s.

Crutchlow held third place from the first lap to last, crossing the line twelve seconds from victory, but a safe six seconds clear of Yamaha Tech 3 team-mate Andrea Dovizioso.

Stefan Bradl (LCR Honda), Alvaro Bautista (Gresini Honda), Valentino Rossi (Ducati) and Randy de Puniet (ART) completed the top eight, while Lorenzo's team-mate Ben Spies suffered yet another DNF.

The race took place in cool but dry conditions after heavy overnight rain, with pole sitter Lorenzo holding the lead until just after the halfway point of the 22 laps, when Pedrosa out-braked him into turn three.

But Lorenzo had offered little resistance, suggesting he may have allowed the Honda rider past.

Either way, Pedrosa - quickest throughout practice, but third on the grid after a crash in qualifying - was unable to escape and a prowling Lorenzo inevitably launched a last lap attack. But it wasn't enough to prevent Pedrosa emerging with his third victory of the season.

Lorenzo will now take a reduced 13-point advantage over Pedrosa into the Misano round on September 16, the first of six remaining events.

Pedrosa's team-mate and reigning champion Casey Stoner has returned to Australia for surgery on his injured ankle, removing him from what is now an all-Spanish title battle.


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Related Pictures

Lorenzo and Pedrosa, last lap last corner, Czech MotoGP 2012
Repsol Honda`s Dani Pedrosa

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