Late-Braking MotoGP

Jorge Lorenzo loses it during practice on Friday for the Moto GP stop in Shanghai. He pulled it together enough on Sunday to finish 4th. Photo by Shanghai Daily.

Seven time world champion Moto GP rider Valentino Rossi, riding a Yamaha, outlasted Honda’s Dani Pedrosa to win the Shanghai stop on the world tour Sunday. Pedrosa’s 2nd place finish left him in the lead for the 2008 title in a tight race. His 81 points lead Jorge Lorenzo, the winner at Portugal, by a mere 7 points, with Rossi in 3rd with 72 points. Casey Stoner, reigning Moto GP champion riding for Ducati, finished a distant third in Shanghai, and now hasn’t won since Qatar’s opening race of the season. He has 56 points and is still in it, but is not dominating the way he did just last year.

The chase for the 2008 title is now officially wide open, with four different riders having won four different races. Next stop on the tour is May 18th at the legendary Le Mans course in the Champagne country southwest of Paris.

Top Ten MotoGP World championship standings after the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai on Sunday.

1. Dani Pedrosa_(Spain)_Honda_81_Won at Spain Race #2

2. Jorge Lorenzo_(Spain)_Yamaha_74_Won at Portugal Race #3

3. Valentino Rossi_(Italy)_Yamaha_72_Won at China Race #4

4. Casey Stoner_(Australia)_Ducati_56_Won at Quatar Race #1

5. Loris Capirossi (Italy) Suzuki 33

6. James Toseland (Britain) Yamaha 33

7. Colin Edwards (U.S.) Yamaha 31

8. Nicky Hayden (U.S.) Honda 29 (2006 World Champion)

9. Andrea Dovizioso (Italy) Honda 26

10. John Hopkins (U.S.) Kawasaki 26

Tags: motogp, motorcycle, Shanghai, Yamaha

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