"Lorenzo outsmarted by 'braver' Rossi"

Jorge Lorenzo was putting a brave face on his final lap in the defeat at the hands of the Fiat Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi in his home Grand Prix of Catalunya on Sunday.

Having lost last year after a case of Catalunya practice accident, Lorenzo made a spectacular return to Barcelona 2009, the meeting not less than second in four track sessions before the race and qualification of pole position.

Lorenzo then put your colors of FC Barcelona in the first place, with Rossi in close next year and, after Casey Stoner fell off the back 9 of 25 onwards, the race became a pure two-way duel for supremacy.

Neither the broker capable of inflicting a decisive blow, a final round clash was inevitable and began pressing firmly with Lorenzo his way past Rossi on the brakes on a tour.

Rossi's turn four unsuccessful counter-attack and held their ground Lorenzo crucial to halt at the end of the back straight, widely seen as a last chance to overcome.

But Rossi, Lorenzo surprised with the release to the market in the last turn fast, and then maintained that M1 in line to win by just 0.095sec.

"This was a great battle today and a brilliant spectacle for everyone, I am happy to have been a part of it," said Lorenzo.

"Of course I'm sad because I lost my heart to put my bike in my career and I am more used to winning these fights last lap, but Valentino was now perhaps a little smarter or a little more brave than me in the end and was able to beat me.

"In fact, during that last lap, after that happened, I was hoping that he go back brake a lot earlier, but he did not come, then I can not close the line enough in the last corner and that is it.

"I am proud, because even though I'm young and I still have much to learn in this class. My team has worked very well all weekend, thanks to them, if we can continue to firmly, because as the season then who knows what can happen? "

Rossi, Lorenzo and Stoner are now tied at the top of the MotoGP World Championship and also had two victories each of the first six rounds.

"It was a fantastic battle, I believe we all enjoyed watching and seeing Jorge fight to the end with Valentino was very special for our side of the garage," said Lorenzo team director Daniele Romagnoli. "20 points means that we have the same points and Casey and Valentino now we can go to the next race in a strong position. Hopefully we can continue in this way and perhaps the next time we can reverse the position of the podium."

"Stoner: This is what I wanted..."

Ducati finally won the Grand Prix of Italy at the seventh attempt on Sunday, when Casey Stoner won Mugello manufacturer for home - and took the MotoGP World Championship lead. 

The Italian Grand Prix was won by home hero Valentino Rossi, with Honda and Yamaha machinery, since 2002 - but Stoner won by one second on the team-mate Jorge Lorenzo Rossi after a nerve-racking wet / dry race. 

After that in the early stages, Stoner fell back to sixth place when his wet tires degraded but remained in contact and was fourth at the time of his pit stop, on lap 10 23. 

Crucially, the team fitted the soft Stoner available (medium) compound slick tires both front and rear of his Desmosedici, allowing the Australian rapidly to speed on the wet track. 

Stoner of the first round of the pools is a 2min 6.761sec, compared to 2min 10.526sec to Lorenzo de Rossi, and 2min 13.483sec. 

As a result, even Stoner was second in one lap and took the lead on lap 14. After overcoming a clutch problem, and fighting off Loris Capirossi, the 2007 world champion was able to keep just out of reach of Lorenzo, Rossi, while the delay in the tires hard to let you two seconds adrift in the pavilion. 

"Since I won in Italy, at Misano in 2007, and was great for Ducati, but this was what I really wanted," said Stoner after his 18th career MotoGP victory. "We struggled to find a great fit for the last two years, but today was our day. 

"We started well in the wet, I felt good and the bike was doing great until the wet tires are worn. I kept trying to push to the limit because they do not want to lose ground in the other, as in Le Mans and stayed there until I was absolutely sure that it was time to change tires. 

"As soon as I left I felt comfortable spots and competitive," he continued. "Unfortunately I had a problem with the engine and started giving me some problems. Loris came last and was pushing hard and go very well and kept me on my toes.

"In a moment I thought that was all, but fortunately I was able to work in a way to travel around the problem and bring victory home. I made a few mistakes during the last two laps, but fortunately it did not matter. It was really a race difficult, but a great one for the whole team, for Filippo [Preziosi] to everyone in Ducati and all Ducatisti. I am so happy today. " 

"This is definitely a victory for us," said Claudio Domenicali, Ducati Corse CEO and Ducati Motor Holding Product Director. "Mugello is our circuit, where Vittoriano [Guareschi] has made thousands of miles of testing and Desmosedici which made its first test in 2002. 

"So to win here in front of so many passionate Italian fans, workers in factories and suppliers, the Ducati is even more packed than ever, it is a great feeling and a great source of pride. It is a good opportunity to give thank all the sponsors that make possible the results of this kind, and all our technical work, whether on the track or back in the factory that give us the opportunity to unleash the full potential of a special rider. 

"Casey rode majestically on board a machine that is built on the sweat of many people." 

Stoner second victory of the season has put him back in the MotoGP World Championship lead by four points over Lorenzo, Rossi, with five points further back.

"Valentino Rossi fights back with Jerez victory"

Six-time reigning MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi took his first victory of the 2009 season - and 98th of his career - with a come-from-behind victory in front of more than 123,000 fans on a Sunday Grand Prix Jerez in Spain. 

The Italian, second in the first two rounds of the season, held their fourth on the grid at the opening corners - hero of origin, while Dani Pedrosa stormed to a place before the beginning of Casey Stoner and Jorge Lorenzo pole sitter. 

Rossi - who appeared deflated after qualifying 0.7sec off pole - snatched third place from Lorenzo on lap two, then made a second pass Stoner on pole for the second claim of the Ducati rider on lap seven of 27. 

At that point Pedrosa of Repsol Honda 1.4sec is before the # 46 Fiat Yamaha and Pedrosa - winner of the race last year - initially accompanied Dr. lap lap, Rossi grew up before the Spanish of the rear wheel with eleven laps to go. 

Rossi made his move with a repeat victory for his movement Lorenzo within diving Nieto on the corner that leads into the section of the stadium. The 30 years of age a rapid amount of space between him and Pedrosa on his way to a victory 2.7sec title in 2009 and led by eleven points over Stoner. 

Rossi repeated his celebrated classic 'portaloo holding 250GP Spanish in 1999, while the earth was the explosion of fireworks. 

Pedrosa was capable of maintaining the second position and therefore continue his remarkable record of never finishing lower than second in a MotoGP race in Jerez, while Stoner is facing a late race attack by Lorenzo. 

The Spanish, whose victory last weekend Motegi had given him the world championship lead, was strangely out of rhythm in the first half of the race - and nearly seven seconds behind Pedrosa at the halfway stage. 

However, the Spanish, 22 years on Monday, which is the way then, closing less than a second of Stoner third with four laps to go - when he lost the front of his M1 and dramatically lowsided in the gravel .

The # 99 machine remount battered but had no link right foot and was forced to cruise back to the pit garage and a bitter DNF. 

Lorenzo out of the Stoner left to claim his first podium in Jerez, in his Ducati and the most difficult track, while Randy De Puniet rode a flawless race to claim an excellent quarter for Honda LCR. 

It also welcomes Marco Melandri, who matched the best finish on the Kawasaki MotoGP last season in only his third race in the unofficial term Hayate ZX-RR. 

The Italian, riding in his 100th MotoGP event, fought countryman Loris Capirossi and Colin Edwards of America for much of the race, the best of Capirossi Suzuki Edwards with a second by less than half a second behind Monster to Yamaha Tech 3. 

Andrea Dovizioso took eighth place, despite running off the track on lap eight and back into 16th place, while Toni Elias (Honda Gresini) and Chris Vermeulen (Rizla Suzuki) completed the top ten. 

Sete Gibernau Jerez offset the eleventh round of Francisco Hernando Ducati, while Yuki Takahashi Motegi helped erase his mistake by being the top rookie in twelfth position Scot Honda. 

James Toseland was a disappointing 13th in 3 technology, a fraction ahead of Gresini Alex de Angelis. Stoner's team-mate Nicky Hayden faire worse - finishing the race more than a minute behind Rossi and just ahead of rookie Pramac Niccolo Canepa. 

Canepa's team-mate Mika Kallio retired with technical problems. 

The Grand Prix at Le Mans in France, takes place May 17. 

Results of the Spanish Grand Prix race at Jerez, round three of the 2009 MotoGP World Championship. 

1. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team 45min 18557 seconds 
2. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team 45min 21257 seconds 
3. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team 45min 29064 seconds
4. Randy De Puniet FRA LCR Honda MotoGP 45min 50450 seconds 
5. Marco Melandri ITA Racing Team Hayate 45min 51685 seconds

6. Loris Capirossi ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 45min 52685 seconds 
7. Colin Edwards USA Tech 3 Yamaha monster 45min 52978 seconds 

8. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Repsol Honda Team 45min 53182 seconds 
9. Toni Elias SPA San Carlo Honda Gresini 46min 1246 sec 
10. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 46min 3740 sec 
11. Sete Gibernau SPA Grupo Francisco Hernando 46min 6749 sec 
12. Yuki Takahashi JPN Team Scot MotoGP Racing 46min 10432 seconds 
13. James Toseland GBR Yamaha Tech 3 Monster 46min 12240 seconds 

14. Alex de Angelis RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini 46min 12498 seconds 
15. Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Marlboro Team 46min 19794 seconds 
16. Niccolo Canepa ITA Pramac Racing 46min 29453 seconds 

DNF: 
Mika Kallio FIN Pramac Racing 15 laps 
Jorge Lorenzo SPA Fiat Yamaha Team 4 laps

"Rossi Signals Intent with Friday Form"

Valentino Rossi said his intention to return to the top of the podium with a commanding performance in free practice today, surpassing the time the leaves of a sun-soaked Jerez de la Frontera. Jorge Lorenzo, making a triumphant return home after his victory in Japan last weekend, finished the session in the fourth. 

After the bad weather the last two rounds in the paddock breathed a sigh of relief today to see the blue sky and the sun and the Spanish team Fiat Yamaha riders were happy to ride in those conditions again. Rossi, who is now a point behind his teammate in the championship classification, made some changes to its base of attachment and reaped the rewards immediately, finishing 0.364 seconds ahead of compatriot Loris Capirossi. 

After being fast in the test here in March, Lorenzo was waiting to make a good start, but the Mallorcan was found with an unexpected acceleration in some problems and was not able to match the pace of his teammate. It seeks to reduce the gap with the Italian during the second morning practice and qualifying sessions. 

Valentino Rossi Position: 1 Time: 1'39 .647 Laps: 21 

"Today there is no prize, as in the test, but still very good for our work to begin so positively. During the first two races we've had a couple of small problems, and today we made a change in our environment to improve things and we can now see it was working. I could go as I wanted with the soft and hard Bridgestone tires and I was the fastest of the whole session. It is very hot today is surely better than the rain of the last races, but that means if so then the race on Sunday will be very hard on tires, so that tomorrow we must concentrate on refining our environment to help as much as possible " .

Jorge Lorenzo Position: 4 Time: 1'40 .441 Laps: 20 

"It's good to be back in the sun and in Spain, but I'm a little disappointed by the day. I had a problem at first with my helmet, and were delayed in leaving a trail. Once we started I felt good with the soft tire Bridgestone, but when we tried hard we had some problems later and the bike does not feel completely stable. Tomorrow we must return to a different environment and I hope that things will be better. " 

Davide Brivio Team Manager 

"This has been a very good opening session! We concentrated on trying some different settings and with the bike for better balance on the basis of our experience of the first two races, and seems to have found something good. We will assess this morning and hope it will be fixed for the race. " 

Daniele Romagnoli Team Manager 

"The reunion was not so bad, but we found some small problems that we did not expect, in the acceleration. Now we have to compare the data with the test and we are quite sure that tomorrow we can fix these problems and return to our recent. "

"Stoner and Hayden Work on Set-Up"

The MotoGP World Championship 2009 officially landed in Europe today as the first session of free practice for the Grand Prix of Spain held a reception in the brightness of the sun of southern Spain. Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden started working together this afternoon, but both struggled for the right time to make changes to improve their lap times. 

Stoner for, starting with the same configuration that allowed the fastest lap in the official preseason testing here a month ago, an issue with front end affected the stability and confidence in the lap time, but the Australian remains impressive as set the third fastest lap. Hayden, meanwhile, spent the session working to adjust the settings for the harder compound Bridgestone tires, but still feeling the effects of his accident just five days at Motegi and could only manage 17th overall. 

Casey Stoner (Ducati Marlboro Team) 3rd (1'40 .268) 

"We started with the settings and everything felt pretty good. We are fighting with some minor problems in a few areas, but I think that was mainly due to the tire pressure was too high and we only have to drop it by a little. tried the second moto, but unfortunately had a technical problem so I went to my first and tried a few things without improving the creation of a hell of a lot. The bike was very good, but turning I lost the front a few times and we could not really understand why. We have tried to establish a front that helped the stability, but the shift was much worse. We have to go back to work tomorrow to find the balance. Anyway, it is good to be back in Europe and working under normal conditions, with this big time. It felt good to have to wear my dark visor again! Hopefully it will be like this because I'm sure we can make appropriate changes to the bike tonight and earn a lot of progress tomorrow. " 

Nicky Hayden - (Ducati Marlboro Team), 17th (1'41 .916) 

"It was a great first session, especially for us, but not as bad as it sounds good. The bike is a little different from the way he had in the test, but not so great. We had a great underway in the trial so we've done a couple of changes and tried the tires on both bikes just hard to try to understand a little more. I've struggled with the harder tire, and only recently stuck in today and who tried to make the bike work with him. The lap time is not what I was looking for at this time, but my feeling with the bike was really good. I was a little unsure about how I would feel physically and to be honest no I feel great out there, but it is possible to mount. We have a couple of things to talk to the team and hopefully tomorrow I can make a big step. I just need to be quicker! "