13 July 2008 - 15H08
Stoner seals third consecutive win
Defending champion Casey Stoner won the German MotoGP on Sunday to bring himself right into this year's championship fight. Valentino Rossi came second to take over the lead in the standings after Dani Pedrosa slid off in the wet conditions.
MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner secured his third successive victory after
winning a rain-soaked German Grand Prix on Sunday.
winning a rain-soaked German Grand Prix on Sunday.
The Australian overcame sickness as well as the poor
conditions to finish 3.708 seconds ahead of former champion
Valentino Rossi of Italy, who regained the overall lead in the
standings from Spaniard Dani Pedrosa who bowed out early in the
race.
conditions to finish 3.708 seconds ahead of former champion
Valentino Rossi of Italy, who regained the overall lead in the
standings from Spaniard Dani Pedrosa who bowed out early in the
race.
Australian Chris Vermeulen clinched third spot, 14.002
seconds behind Stoner after a tight race to the line with San
Marino's Alex de Angelis.
seconds behind Stoner after a tight race to the line with San
Marino's Alex de Angelis.
"I've been feeling sick since yesterday morning," a
groggy-looking Stoner told the BBC. "I was struggling with my
concentration levels and it wasn't getting any better today.
groggy-looking Stoner told the BBC. "I was struggling with my
concentration levels and it wasn't getting any better today.
"Those conditions were very, very hard. I was losing it and
aquaplaning in a lot of places so I was lucky to come out of
that one on the bike, let alone win the race."
aquaplaning in a lot of places so I was lucky to come out of
that one on the bike, let alone win the race."
Stoner started in pole position but was left trailing in the
opening stages by Pedrosa.
opening stages by Pedrosa.
Pedrosa appeared to make light work of the wet track to open
up a gap of more than six seconds over the chasing pack before
sliding off at the start of the sixth lap.
up a gap of more than six seconds over the chasing pack before
sliding off at the start of the sixth lap.
Stoner capitalised to retake the lead and hold off Rossi for
the remaining 25 laps.
the remaining 25 laps.
With eight races remaining, Rossi leads Pedrosa by 16 points
with Stoner third, a further four points behind.
with Stoner third, a further four points behind.
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