" MOTOGP: Stoner Does It Again"

For once the weather forecast was correct. A red typhoon in the form of Casey Stoner and Ducati, swept across the Sachsenring to claim a rain-soaked victory in the German Grand Prix.

It was another masterful ride by defending world champion who has won three races in succession, giving four out of 10 for the season so far.

Stoner's victory in a wet runway in front of a huge crowd of 98000 fans who braved the conditions, was at the expense of his main championship rival, Valentino Rossi and Dani Pedrosa. Rossi finished second to regain the lead, while Pedrosa came out in a line of high-speed Turn 1 tumble and scored zero points.

Stoner and Rossi joined on the podium
Suzuki by rain captain, Chris Vermeulen, who rode superbly from 11 in the grill to finish third.

Vermeulen just held off a fast finishing Alex de Angelis (Honda) was fourth with another pilot Honda, Andrew Dovizioso, fifth. The Frenchman Sylvain Guintoli scored his best result this season so far with the sixth place on a Ducati.

Stoner wins the final, the 100, an Australian rider in the first class, has opened the championship game ahead of next Sunday's U.S. Grand Prix at Laguna Seca.

Rossi is an emerging leader in points with 187 in 171 Pedrosa and Stoner at 167 but the scene is set for Laguna to be a crucial event before taking their riders annual summer vacation.

But this race was Stoner especially patience and softness in treacherous conditions.

"When I saw Dani pulling away I thought there was no way to catch up, but then saw his bicycle cap and went to the gravel," said Stoner. "The conditions today could have caught any of us. Now I will try to keep closing the gap in the championship and I think you can count on the possibility to fight for it again, but there is a long way to go."

Pedrosa had pulled a stunning contrast to seven seconds in five laps before crashing more than 120 mph just as he touched the brakes for Turn 1 on lap six.

The suffered a fractured left index finger and suspected fracture in his left ankle and immediately flew to Barcelona on Sunday night for specialized treatment in the hope of being fit for Laguna Seca.

"It was a bit strange, I had barely touched the brakes and crashed," said Pedrosa. "It was a real pity because I had a great start and was going well. Striker felt perfect, the rear is sliding
only a little, but the general feeling was good taking into account the conditions of the track. "

Since the third-row grilled Rossi had to cede ground and principles for the time being installed in second round to nine winners was always going to be difficult.

"I did not win but it's good for me to be back on top of the rankings," said Rossi. "I had a good feeling and it's fun to travel even in bad conditions. I saw Dani goes very fast, and then his bike in the gravel and after that it was not possible to catch Casey."

Suzuki score in the first podium of a lackluster season Vermeulen was in stellar form. El Bravo after blinding spray from 14 to splash their way through the impressive package for a third party.

"I had a bad grade and the fifth row had much dew in the early laps," said Vermeulen. "But I stayed upright as Casey and I used the hard tyres and it is difficult to get heat on it, but once I got to third there was no chance to catch Casey and Valentino today."

De Angelis made a mid-race charge and finished just behind Vermeulen 0.1s after a tense battle for the last three laps.

After being second in early Dovizioso faded to finish fifth, four seconds ahead of Guintoli.

Qualifier front row Colin Edwards (Yamaha Tech3) took a brief early battle with Rossi for third before crashing fifth place on lap 21 as he struggled disappearing levels of grip.

"I tried to follow Casey and Valentino but I just had nothing for them," said Edwards. "Fifth would be the best outcome we could have managed and today is a bit disappointing because in
I think it dries could have been fighting for a podium. I have my career coming to Laguna and desperately want to put in a good performance for the fans. "

And there was little joy for Honda of Nicky Hayden made a pit stop for a change to more appropriate rear tire compound and electronic problems fought until the end 13 meetings, two laps down.

Kawasaki's Anthony West, racing with a cracked vertebra and full of pain, recovered from a crash to finish tenth after making a superb charge at the beginning of 17 on the grid to seventh before his accident.