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MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi powered from fourth on the starting grid to take his first victory of the season in Spain on Sunday and open an 11-point lead at the top of the overall standings.

The Yamaha rider slipped past early leader Dani Pedrosa with 10 laps left in front of the 120,000 crowd at the Jerez circuit and pulled away to finish the 27-lap race 2.7 seconds clear of the Spaniard’s Honda.

Australian Casey Stoner was third for Ducati, his first appearance on the podium in Spain.

Victory for Rossi sent the Italian top of the championship standings with 65 points after three rounds. Stoner is second on 54 and Pedrosa tied for third with compatriot and Rossi’s team mate Jorge Lorenzo on 41.

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Fiat Yamaha rider sees ‘two riders a step above the rest’ after Qatar podium. Satisfied but not elated by a podium finish in Qatar, Jorge Lorenzo was analytical in his response to events on Monday evening.

Fiat Yamaha’s Spanish star was back on the rostrum at the scene of his first MotoGP top three finish, but felt that the gap between himself and racewinner Casey Stoner was more than the nine point difference suggested.

“It is a very good result, and the position is fine,” said Lorenzo. “However, the gap between myself and Stoner was too much. We have to work and work, because these problems need to be solved so that we get to Motegi with more of a chance.

“At the moment there are two riders who are a step above the rest,” he added, referring to Stoner and Fiat Yamaha teammate Valentino Rossi.

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Having finished fifth at the Losail International Circuit last year Valentino Rossi was pleased to have started the 2009 season - and his MotoGP title defence - with an improved second place in Qatar.

World Champion Valentino Rossi was unable to prevent Casey Stoner running away with a third consecutive season-opening victory at the Commercialbank Grand Prix of Qatar, but the brilliant Italian typically took the positives from his second place finish in the Arabian desert in Monday’s re-scheduled MotoGP race.

Rossi was amongst those who had stated after Sunday night’s rainfall that it was important to stay on at the floodlit Losail track to put on a show for the fans on Monday evening, and whilst he was unable to catch Stoner at the front of the race he did his level best at trying to hunt down the Ducati Marlboro poleman.

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After his horror crash in qualifying on Saturday at the Commercialbank Grand Prix of Qatar Nicky Hayden did well to come home twelfth on his Ducati race debut.

Nicky Hayden produced an impressive display in his first race for Ducati Marlboro coming from 16th on the grid at the Losail International Circuit in Monday’s re-scheduled MotoGP contest to finish in the points in 12th place, despite his back and chest injuries.

Controlling the awesome Desmosedici GP9 throughout the race cannot have been easy for Hayden after his big crash in qualifying on Saturday, given the badly bruised back and stitches in his chest which the American had to deal with.

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Force India hope to emulate fellow independents Toro Rosso and win a Formula One grand prix next year, team owner Vijay Mallya said on Monday.

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Former 125 World Champion Andrea Dovizioso is to join the Repsol Honda Team for the 2009 MotoGP World Championship. The Italian talent will join Spaniard Dani Pedrosa in Honda’s official HRC squad, riding full-factory RC212V machinery. The announcement is a dream come true for Dovizioso, who has raced Hondas since 2002.

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Reigning world champion Casey Stoner crashed late in this morning’s MotoGP practice session but walked away unhurt.

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SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium: Formula one was plunged into new controversy on Sunday when race stewards at the Belgian Grand Prix stunningly stripped Lewis Hamilton of a brilliant victory.

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The recently redesigned Audi TT is one hot looking sports car and now Audi is prepared to offer at least two new versions, including one that is powered by the company’s popular TDI powerplant.

In the two pictures at the bottom of the screen, the one on top is the Audi TTS (white). This builds on the already “competent” package of the existing TT, bumping the grunt up to 272 horsepower and 258 lbs-ft of torque. Power comes by way of a 2.0L TFSI engine, propelling the sporty number from 0-62mph in just 5.2 seconds. The Audi TTS will be available in coupe or convertible with prices starting at 44,900 Euro and 47,750 Euro, respectively.

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The recently redesigned Audi TT is one hot looking sports car and now Audi is prepared to offer at least two new versions, including one that is powered by the company’s popular TDI powerplant.

In the two pictures at the bottom of the screen, the one on top is the Audi TTS (white). This builds on the already “competent” package of the existing TT, bumping the grunt up to 272 horsepower and 258 lbs-ft of torque. Power comes by way of a 2.0L TFSI engine, propelling the sporty number from 0-62mph in just 5.2 seconds. The Audi TTS will be available in coupe or convertible with prices starting at 44,900 Euro and 47,750 Euro, respectively.

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