Repsol YPF
Ruta
Pedrosa on the podium at Assen and championship leader
Dani Pedrosa was on the second step of the podium at the “Cathedral” of motorbike racing. The Spanish Repsol Honda rider spent practically the whole race in second position and won some valuable points that have taken him to the top of the rider standings. Casey Stoner got the victory after setting a very fast pace that nobody could live with. Colin Edwards, on the other hand was an unexpected third as Nicky Hayden´s bike broke down a few metres from the finishing line
The Repsol rider Honda Dani Pedrosa made a great start and moved into the lead on the first corner. Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden followed close behind but before the end of the first lap Stoner was back in the lead and that is where he stayed. On the fifth lap the Australian rider set his third consecutive fastest lap and was by now riding alone. Dani Pedrosa was the only rider able to keep up with Stoner, but at some distance, and protected his excellent second position that has taken him to the top of the rider classification.
The American Colin Edwards benefited from a technical failure on Nicky Hayden`s bike and finished on the podium at Assen. The Repsol Honda rider was fourth carried over the finishing line by the bike`s inertia. Valentino Rossi, who did not start well, clashed with De Puniet and the two ended up on the ground on the first lap. However, Rossi got back on his bike and began to fight back, eventually climbing up to eleventh position. His teammate Jorge Lorenzo, on the other hand, finished sixth behind Andrea Dovizioso.
6/30/2008
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