 Pedrosa secured victory in just his fourth top-class race |
Spanish rookie Dani Pedrosa led a Honda one-two as he sealed a maiden MotoGP win at the China Grand Prix on Sunday. The 20-year-old's dream start to his MotoGP career continued with victory in just his fourth race.
Pedrosa crossed the line ahead of his American team-mate and championship leader Nicky Hayden.
Colin Edwards was third on his Yamaha but seven-times world champion Valentino Rossi retired four laps from the end with technical problems.
Rossi had raced through the field from 13th on the grid and was running fifth when he was first forced into the pits.
 |  I didnt expect to win and the last 10 laps were very hard |
The Italian now lies sixth in the championship standings, 32 points behind Hayden. Hayden has 72 points, while Loris Capirossi of Italy is second on 59, ahead of Pedrosa on 57.
Pedrosa, who slammed his helmet with his fists in delight after crossing the line on Sunday. said: "I didnt expect to win and the last 10 laps were very hard.
"I'm very happy and very surprised. I was just very focused on my job, trying to get the best lap time every time, going faster and faster."
Cumbrian James Ellison lies 17th in the table with three points after finishing 16th in Shanghai, one place outside the scoring positions.
Spaniard Hector Barbera of Fortuna Aprilia outfought Italy's Andrea Dovizioso from pole position to take his first win in the 250cc class. Shuhei Aoyama of Japan was third in the race. "It might have looked easy with pole position but I did have a few problems out there," said Barbera.
"I'm a bit nervous to be first for the first time."
In the 125cc race, Finland's Mika Kallio of KTM won from pole position, with Italian Aprilia rider Mattia Pasini second, ahead of Spanish team-mate Alvaro Bautista.
China MotoGP results:
1. Daniel Pedrosa (Sp) Honda 44min 07.734sec
2. Nicky Hayden (USA) Honda at 1.505
3. Colin Edwards (USA) Yamaha 14.634
4. John Hopkins (USA) Suzuki 19.265
5. Casey Stoner (Aus) Honda 23.061
6. Makoto Tamada (Jpn) Honda 23.879
7. Marco Melandri (It) Honda 24.101
8. Loris Capirossi (It) Ducati 24.467
9. Sete Gibernau (Sp) Ducati 28.358
10. Shinya Nakano (Jpn) Kawazaki 33.815
Selected others: 16 James Ellison (GB) Yamaha 45:30.809
DNF: Valentino Rossi (It) Yamaha
Moto GP standings (after four races):
1. Nicky Hayden (USA) Honda 72 pts
2. Loris Capirossi (It) Ducati 59
3. Daniel Pedrosa (Sp) Honda 57
4. Marco Melandri (It) Honda 54
5. Casey Stoner (Aus) Honda 52
6. Valentino Rossi (It) Yamaha 40
7. Toni Elias (Sp) Honda 37
8. Colin Edwards (USA) Yamaha 35
9. Shinya Nakano (Jpn) Kawasaki 28
10. Sete Gibernau (Sp) Ducati 25
Selected other: 17. James Ellison (GB) Yamaha 3
250cc results:
1. Hector Barbera (Sp) Aprilia 44min 49.445sec
2. Andrea Dovizioso (It) Honda at 0.266
3. Hiroshi Aoyama (Jpn) KTM 3.320
4. Jorge Lorenzo (Sp) Aprilia 3.602
5. Yuki Takahashi (Jpn) Honda 3.618
250cc standings:
1. Andrea Dovizioso (It) Honda 72 pts
2. Hector Barbera (Sp) Aprilia 69
3. Jorge Lorenzo (Sp) Aprilia 63
4. Hiroshi Aoyama (Jpn) KTM 62
5. Roberto Locatelli (It) Aprilia 47
125cc results:
1. Mika Kallio (Fin) KTM 42min 06.223sec
2. Mattia Pasini (It) Aprilia at 0.097
3. Alvaro Bautista (Sp) Aprilia 0.357
4. Gabor Talmacsi (Hun) 0.899 Honda
5. Julian Simon (Sp) KTM 1.106
125cc standings:
1. Alvaro Bautista (Esp) Aprilia 86 pts
2. Mika Kallio (Fin) KTM 58
3. Hector Faubel (Esp) Aprilia 54
4. Mattia Pasini (Ita) Aprilia 49
5. Sergio Gadea (Esp) Aprilia 46
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