Voir 2011 MotoGP Highlights - Episode 15

Dani Pedrosa took his third victory of the season in an eventful race at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit with Jorge Lorenzo second and Casey Stoner third. Pedrosa crossed the line first at a drama filled Grand Prix of Japan where the only two of the top seven riders did not either run off track or incur a ride through penalty. The GP began with pole setter Stoner launching into turn one ahead of the field, while team mate Dovizioso jumped the start from the front row, with Marco Simoncelli (San Carlo Honda Gresini Team) and Cal Crutchlow (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) both following suit. Ducati Team’s Valentino Rossi crashed out of the first lap, colliding with Yamaha Factory Racing’s Ben Spies and forcing the American’s team mate off Jorge Lorenzo off track. Meanwhile Stoner appeared set to take another victory, leading clear and free until running off the track on lap five. Shortly thereafter Héctor Barberá (Mapfre Aspar) went down, while Nicky Hayden (Ducati Team) ran off track after lapping in fourth position. Lorenzo had some catching up to do, and made his way through the field to cross the line second, while Stoner rose to third. Simoncelli and Dovizioso took their ride through penalties and then engaged in a battle to the finish for fourth with the San Carlo Honda Gresini rider coming out on top in front of Dovizioso in fifth.