Dani Pedrosa wins at Valencia to take third in the MotoGP World Championship

November 9, 9:06 AMDC Motorcycle Travel ExaminerMark Poesch

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With Casey Stoner (#27) out of the way due to a crash during the warm-up lap just prior to the race start, Dani Pedrosa, on the orange and red Repsol Honda #3 was poised to take the lead.  But, not just in the first lap, or the race itself -- Casey’s crash would open the door for Dani to take Casey’s place on the World Championship podium.

Casey crashed behind most of the field during the warm-up lap, so as the riders returned to the grid, none of the riders on the first several rows of the grid knew what happened.  However, Valentino Rossi (#46) could see a clear track ahead from his fourth position on the grid, immediately behind Stoner’s open pole position.  And, Pedrosa looked sideways for Stoner, clearly curious about the disruption -- almost missing the start-light as it turned red, and then turned off for the race start.

MotoGP Honda rider Dani Pedrosa of Spain gestures to the crowd after winning the MotoGP Motorcycle Grand Prix, the last race of the season, at the Cheste race track just outside of Valencia, Spain Sunday Nov. 8, 2009. Pedrosa of Spain won the season-ending Valencia Grand Prix on Sunday ahead of newly crowned world champion Valentino Rossi. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)

Although briefly distracted, at the start Pedrosa shot off the line, taking full advantage of his light weight to out-accelerate Jorge Lorenzo (#99) and Rossi into turn one.

MotoGP Honda rider Dani Pedrosa of Spain, right, leads the pack on his way to win the MotoGP Motorcycle Grand Prix, the last race of the season, at the Cheste race track just outside of Valencia, Spain, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009. Pedrosa won the season-ending Valencia Grand Prix on Sunday ahead of newly crowned world champion Valentino Rossi. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)

Tony Elias (#24) also got a bullet-like start, and passed both Lorenzo and Rossi on the outside of turn one.

But, for Pedrosa, the race was over:  With the Spanish fans behind him, a comfortable setup, and super-human riding skills, he ran all 30 laps flawlessly at a pace that not even Rossi could catch securing his first-place win at Valencia, and third-place in the 2009 MotoGP World Championship.

MotoGP Honda rider Dani Pedrosa of Spain reacts after winning the MotoGP Motorcycle Grand Prix, the last race of the season, at the Cheste race track just outside of Valencia, Spain, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009. Dani Pedrosa of Spain won the season-ending Valencia Grand Prix on Sunday ahead of newly crowned world champion Valentino Rossi. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)

For more information:
- Valentino Rossi punctuates his 2009 MotoGP World Championship victory
- Jorge Lorenzo secures second place in the MotoGP World Championship
- Heartbreak for Casey Stoner at the Valencia MotoGP 2009 season finale
- Ben Spies finishes stronger than ever at the 2009 Valencia MotoGP
- MotoGP.com Results and Statistics
- MotoGP.com Valencia