"PICTURES: Rossi's Assen crash."

Five times MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi makes rare mistake in the opening round of Dutch TT, it costs the 2008 title lead.

This is the first round Assen accident that has cost Valentino Rossi in the MotoGP World Championship lead to Dani Pedrosa - and propelled by Casey Stoner firmly in title contention.

Rossi, starting third in the Dutch TT network behind Pedrosa and Stoner pole sitter, came in round nine of the 18 celebration of eleven point lead over Repsol Honda rider Pedrosa and a substantial advantage to 45 points over Stoner Ducati Marlboro stars .

But the reigning world champion Stoner has been nearly untouchable since a recent breakthrough management engine - easily win last Sunday at Donington Park - and both Rossi and Pedrosa knew they needed to try to stop the # 1 detachment early on lap 26 career.

Pedrosa played for his part, theft from head to turn one but Rossi slipped backwards and in his haste to recover pushed a bit too hard in tight hairpin left the game early in the skirt. The back of Rossi Yamaha Fiat came around, spinning off the Italian hitting and Randy de Puniet.

"After seven podiums in a row I made a mistake today - this is racing!" encogió Rossi. "I'm very disappointed because we made a change in the set-up of the front and has worked very well, and I could tell from the warm-up lap my bike was very good today.

"Unfortunately, erred in the first left, I arrived too fast when the tyres were still cold, was too hard on the brakes and lost the rear. I am sincerely Randy de Puniet and all of his team. "

Puniet of sustained a leg injury and was out on the ground, but Rossi was able to rejoin - although a distant 14 th and last, with a broken gear lever and handlebars twisted.

While Stoner and Pedrosa passed cruises to his third victory of the season more than eleven seconds, Rossi advanced to eleventh from the chequered flag and - despite his damaged bike - to establish the third lap of the race fast, faster than Pedrosa the best and only slower than Stoner and Colin Edwards (third).

"After the accident I had a handlebar folded and not change of gear, but despite this I had the opportunity to make the third fastest lap time, 37.1. I know that could have been faster than Pedrosa and today Although it's easy to say now, I think that might have struggled with Stoner for the victory, "Valentino claimed.

Pedrosa now has four points lead over Rossi in the championship classification, with Stoner to move within 25 points - winning one race - the departure of the Italian Grand Prix in Germany, Sachsenring, July 13.

"I'm glad these five points [of the eleventh] and although we lost the head that we are not far behind Pedrosa. I am waiting now for some technical improvements over my bike and be fast, along with Bridgestone, on each track," He concluded Rossi.

Team manager Davide Brivio Rossi repeated the apology to the unfortunate and Puniet, also reiterated the importance of its eleventh Assen could become.

"This was a good race to Valentino, with the exception of the first round!" began the Italian. "The accident was regrettable and we feel very Randy de Puniet and equipment LCR; apologize to them all and hope that Randy is good.

"Once Valentino remount what he did was just unbelievable, especially without a speed of movement and a handlebar twisted! For several laps was the fastest runner on the track, demonstrating once again its spirit and determination, although it is also disappointing because it is clear that could have done a good race today.

"These five points today are incredibly important because they have maintained the gap to just four points Pedrosa, with half the season remaining. Now just have to start again at Sachsenring and hope for a better weekend."