Dani Pedrosa secured third place in the final 2009 MotoGP world championship standings behind champion Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo after roaring to victory in the season-ending race in Valencia.
Pedrosa moved above Casey Stoner courtesy of his second race victory of the year. And the Repsol rider was helped by the Australian, who had been chasing a hat-trick of wins, writing off his bike on the warm-up lap.
'With Casey out of the race it was easier... It's fantastic to win here' - Dani Pedrosa
With Stoner unable to make it to the start line after smashing his windscreen, the 24-year-old Spaniard looked to take full advantage. And he certainly did, leading his home race from start to finish, despite Rossi’s best efforts.
He said: “I really wanted to win. And, with Casey out of the race it was easier. But we did a great race so thanks to everybody... It's fantastic to win here... To get third in the championship is not what I was expecting but it’s a nice surprise."
Pedrosa added of Stoner's no-show: "I was waiting on the grid with my visor up and I was looking to the side for Casey to arrive, but the marshal in front of me was walking to the side and I was thinking: ‘Where is he going!’ So I assumed something had happened to Casey on the warm-up lap."
Rossi finished second ahead of Lorenzo while Colin Edwards came home fourth, ahead of Nicky Hayden.
Meanwhile, Pedrosa’s team-mate Andrea Dovizioso battled valiantly through the field to secure eighth place - but it was not enough for him to claim fifth place in the overall championship standings.
A less than perfect start had left him down in 14th, but he was able to pass the likes of Loris Capirossi, James Toseland and Alex De Angelis.
Dovizioso reflected: “We overtook a lot of riders in the race, but I cannot be happy with this result because we lost fifth place in the championship, and keeping that position was our target."
Valencia MotoGP result:
1 Dani Pedrosa (Spain) Honda 46mins 47.553secs
2 Valentino Rossi (Italy) Yamaha 46:50.183
3 Jorge Lorenzo (Spain) Yamaha 46:50.466
4 Colin Edwards (U.S.) Yamaha 47:20.068
5 Nicky Hayden (U.S.) Ducati 47:22.138
6 Toni Elias (Spain) Honda 47:22.441
7 Ben Spies (U.S.) Yamaha 47:25.259
8 Andrea Dovizioso (Italy) Honda 47:25.917
2009 MotoGP final standings:
1 Valentino Rossi (Italy) Yamaha 306
2 Jorge Lorenzo (Spain) Yamaha 261
3 Dani Pedrosa (Spain) Honda 234
4 Casey Stoner (Australia) Ducati 220
5 Colin Edwards (U.S.) Yamaha 161
6 Andrea Dovizioso (Italy) Honda 160
7 Toni Elias (Spain) Honda 115
8 Alex de Angelis (San Marino) Honda 111
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