Stoner crossed the finish line just 0.069secs ahead to build his championship lead back up to 14 points after seven rounds, but the psychological gain was far greater. Catalunya is one of Rossi's favourite tracks and he has been exuding confidence in his bike and tyres all weekend - only to have victory snatched away from him.
Perhaps it wasn't such a big surprise - for the last nine
MotoGP races the rider starting on pole position has failed to win, an all-time record.
Home hero Pedrosa finished just 0.39sesc from victory, but in reality was little more than a high speed spectator - the Repsol Honda rider being perfectly placed to pick up the pieces of any incident, but unable to go on the offensive. Dani has now gone a year without a victory and will hope to repeat his 2006 success next time out at
Donington Park.
Hopkins finished an untroubled fourth, while de Puniet produced a brave ride to a MotoGP best of fifth despite his badly injured knee. Stoner's team-mate
Loris Capirossi climbed up from a disastrous 17th on the grid to finish 1.5secs behind the Frenchman with Suzuki's
Chris Vermeulen in turn a fraction from the Italian's rear wheel at the line.
Alex Barros, who beat Stoner to third last weekend, was eighth on the d'Antin Ducati, while
Marco Melandri brought his Gresini Honda home in a forgettable ninth. Team-mate
Toni Elias saw his home hopes end when his RC212V's engine failed while holding sixth on lap 15, making the aggressive Spaniard the only retirement.
While their team-mates stood on the podium,
Colin Edwards and world champion
Nicky Hayden faded from sixth and seventh on the grid to claim 10th (Edwards) and 11th (Hayden) at the flag.
Catalan Grand Prix:
1. Stoner
2. Rossi
3. Pedrosa
4. Hopkins
5. de Puniet
6. Capirossi
7. Vermeulen
8. Barros
9. Melandri
10. Edwards
11. Hayden
12. Tamada
13. Hofmann
14. Guintoli
15. Nakano
16.
Kenny Roberts
17. Checa
18. Kurtis Roberts
