Valentino Rossi ended his seven-race winless streak with a vintage display in the Pramac Grand Prix of China, repeating his 2005 triumph at the Shanghai International Circuit to take his first victory since the Portuguese race last September. He battled with new MotoGP World Championship leader Dani Pedrosa for the majority of the race.

Starting from second on the grid, Rossi was involved in an inseparable front group for the opening laps. Eager to avoid a breakaway from Repsol Honda rider Pedrosa, the five-time MotoGP World Champion matched his Spanish rival lap-for-lap before finally sticking a move on him the ninth time around the track. After assuming control, he upped the pace to take his first victory with Bridgestone tyres, setting a new circuit record of 1´59.273 on his 18th lap.

Rossi lies just nine points behind Pedrosa in the standings after becoming the fourth winner in as many races in 2008. Pedrosa tried hard to assume the early advantage, but eventually finished second to continue as the only rider to have placed on the podium at every race so far.

Returning to the rostrum after two races away, 2007 World Champion Casey Stoner completed the top three comprised of each of the previous Shanghai winners. Last year´s victor was unable to play a part in the battle for the win, but now finds himself in a much healthier position in the championship despite not being completely satisfied with the final outcome.

In a result as miraculous as it was mercurial, Jorge Lorenzo took fourth place with a late surge back up the field, playing through the pain of a fractured ankle and other assorted injuries on the occasion of his 21st birthday. Off the podium for the first time this season, the Spaniard nonetheless received a hero´s welcome on his return to the Fiat Yamaha garage. He is now second in the overall standings, seven points behind arch rival Pedrosa.

Marco Melandri had his best result since joining Ducati, in fifth place ahead of 2006 World Champion Nicky Hayden. A tightly bunched group of Tech 3 Yamaha poleman Colin Edwards, Alice Team´s Toni Elias, Suzuki veteran Loris Capirossi and San Carlo Gresini Honda rider Shinya Nakano could have seen any number of combinations to complete the top ten, whilst the only retiree from the race was Chris Vermeulen on the second Rizla Suzuki GSV-R.

Valentino Rossi – Race Winner
"I´m very, very happy, as it´s been a long time without victory. This was a difficult period; we changed tyres and we had to work very hard. I knew that we had good potential and we felt good from Friday. This is the first time that I was able to ride at a good pace after 15 laps.

"This morning I was upset when I saw rain, but when I saw it may be possible to ride in the dry I thought that I could win. I really had to push to beat Dani; it was a great victory for us."



Mika Kallio continued his fantastic run of podium finishes with victory in the 250cc Pramac Grand Prix of China, extending his lead in the World Championship.

The Finn headed a Red Bull KTM one-two from teammate Hiroshi Aoyama as he took the Austrian factory´s first win at the Shanghai International Circuit, the duo starting from the front and third rows respectively on the grid.

As in the 125cc race, the poleman took an early bow to leave the field wide open. Portugal race winner Alvaro Bautista had a high speed lowside on the eighth lap, whilst fellow front row starter Julian Simon was forced into retirement after losing control of his Repsol KTM machine on lap five.

In third place, Mattia Pasini braved a temperamental wet tyre when the track dried, bouncing back from the disappointment of two crashes in Estoril. The Polaris World rider came out on top in a battle between himself and Marco Simoncelli, and benefitted from a last lap pair of run-offs from Yuki Takahashi when the Japanese rider seemed assured of a rostrum finish. Coupled with the surprise podium taken on the last lap in Jerez, the unluckiest rider of 2007 appears to have shaken off his demons upon arrival in the 250cc category.

Behind Pasini and Simoncelli, another battle raged on between persistent rivals Lotus Aprilia´s Alex Debon and Team Toth´s Hector Barbera. Despite crashing in the incident with Simon, Debon was able to get back up and edge out his fellow Spaniard.

The heartbroken Takahashi finished seventh onboard the JiR Team Scot Honda, whilst there were great results for Ratthapark Wilairot, Aleix Espargaro and Hector Faubel. Poleman Bautista eventually came in twelve for a valuable addition to his points total.



Andrea Iannone was the surprise winner of the 125cc Pramac Grand Prix of China, shining in the wet conditions that had hit the Shanghai International Circuit overnight. The I.C. team rider kept his cool for his first ever World Championship victory, having started from fifth place on the grid.

The Italian had faced early challenges from poleman Bradley Smith and 2007 World Champion Gabor Talmacsi, until the former crashed out on the seventh lap and the latter dropped his pace at the midway point. From then on, it was a matter of holding his nerve for a memorable win, which he eventually took by over three seconds and celebrated with a huge wheelie down the home straight.

Wet weather expert Mike di Meglio took his first podium of the year from the front row, getting the better of Talmacsi as the rostrum places were decided. Too far behind the battling duo to make a top three challenge, yet in no danger of being caught, Belson Derbi rider Pol Espargaro took a comfortable fourth place.

Stefan Bradl and Joan Olive completed the top six, with Olive holding off a late push from Michael Ranseder as the Australian clocked the fastest lap of the race. Nico Terol, Raffaele de Rosa and Efren Vazquez were the final riders in the top ten.

There were numerous crashes in the first race of the day, with Danny Webb, Sandro Cortese and Scott Redding amongst those joining World Championship leader Simone Corsi in hitting the asphalt. Corsi still has the advantage despite not having been able to finish the Chinese race.