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Loading ...Valentino Rossi extended his lead over Jorge Lorenzo in the championship standings to 14 points after edging out his team-mate to win the German MotoGP.
The Yamaha duo were involved in a cat-and-mouse duel but Rossi pounced with two laps left to win at Sachsenring by nine-hundredths of a second.
Lorenzo had to settle for second, with Dani Pedrosa third ahead of Casey Stoner, who had tyre problems.
Britain’s James Toseland came home in 10th place.
Rossi, who claimed his 101st victory, was thrilled to have held on for such an important victory over his closest rival, which also saw him equal Giacomo Agostini’s record of 159 podium finishes.
“It was a great race. I made a good start and had to fight at the beginning with Casey which was funny,” he told BBC Sport.
“But our two Yamahas worked very well and it was another great battle with Jorge. It was fantastic, we enjoyed it, and it was perfect for me.
“I braked so deep on that corner [to overtake Lorenzo]. I didn’t make a mistake at a crucial point and it was an important victory for the championship.”
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Rossi led from pole position on an eventful first lap which saw Randy de Puniet crash out of third position following a fine start.
Stoner had worked his way past Pedrosa before taking over the lead from Rossi on lap six as the four main riders in the championship pulled clear of the field.
Rossi delighted after German win
Stoner, who has been suffering recently with anaemia and gastritis, seemed a rider rejuvenated but it soon became clear he was holding up the Yamaha duo, allowing Pedrosa to keep in touch.
Rossi and Lorenzo both got past the Australian and that left the team-mates with a third of the 30 laps remaining to battle it out.
With five laps to go, Lorenzo took over the lead into turn one but Rossi managed to return the compliment with two laps remaining, and held off the Spaniard’s attempts at a late challenge.
Afterwards, Lorenzo admitted he had mistimed his overtake.
“I made a bit of a mistake because I thought there were a few more laps left when I passed him,” he said.
“I hoped to overtake him and then try to pull away but it didn’t work out.
“Of course I’m disappointed to lose another very close race, it is always sad but I know that we are capable of fighting with him and considering his experience this is something I must be proud of.”
In the 125cc race, championship leader Julian Simon headed an all-Spanish top five, coming home ahead of Sergio Gadea and Joan Olive.
Briton Bradley Smith’s 100% points-scoring record for the season ended after he crashed twice early on, but Danny Webb finished in eighth place.
And a rain-shortened 250cc race was won by Italy’s Marco Simoncelli, ahead of Spanish duo Alex Debon and Alvaro Bautista.
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German MotoGP result:
1 V Rossi (It) Fiat Yamaha 41:21.769
2 J Lorenzo (Sp) Fiat Yamaha 41:21.868
3 D Pedrosa (Sp) Honda 41:24.668
4 C Stoner (Aus) Ducati 41:31.995
5 A de Angelis (SMR) Honda 41:43.291
6 T Elias (Spn) San Carlo Honda 41:52.621
7 M Melandri (It) Kawasaki 41:53.070
8 N Hayden (US) Ducati 41:53.495
9 C Edwards (US) Tech 3 Yamaha 41:54.634
10 J Toseland (GB) Tech 3 Yamaha 42:05.695
11 L Capirossi (It) Suzuki 42:19.144
12 N Canepa (Ita) Pramac Racing 42:22.308
13 C Vermeuluen (Aus) Suzuki 42:25.414
14 M Kallio (Fin) Ducati 42:25.924
15 G Talmacsi (Hng) Scot Racing + 1 lap
Championship standings:
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