World champion Casey Stoner claimed his third successive MotoGP victory as series leader Dani Pedrosa crashed out in treacherous, wet conditions in Germany on Sunday.
Former champion Valentino Rossi took over at the top of the standings as he defied the rain at Sachsenring to claim second place behind Stoner, whose fellow Australian Chris Vermuelen was third.
Stoner consolidated third place overall as his nearest rivals Jorge Lorenzo and Colin Edwards joined Pedrosa in tumbling off their bikes.
Pedrosa made a sizzling start to the race as he passed polesitter Stoner to take a comfortable seven-second lead, and then saw compatriot Lorenzo crash out on just the third lap of the 30.
Pedrosa did not last much longer, as his Honda slipped out from underneath him on the next lap on a corner and sent him aquaplaning off the track, across the gravel and into the safety barriers.
He picked himself up after the spectacular spill, seeming to be holding his left wrist, but there were no reports on his fitness ahead of the next round at Laguna Seca in the United States next week.
Stoner took over the lead on his Ducati and experienced no such problems with his Bridgestone tires as he cruised to victory ahead of Yamaha's five-time champion Rossi, who now leads Pedrosa by 16 points
Stoner, who gave Ducati the team's first victory in the event after starting a fourth successive race in pole position, closed to within four points of Pedrosa on 167.
"I have been feeling sick since Saturday morning and my concentration levels were low," Stoner said. "I was losing it in all different places. We were lucky to come out of this with the victory."
Vermuelen claimed his first podium placing this year for Suzuki as he held off Italian Alex de Angelis.
Veteran American Edwards had seemed set to continue his resurgence with another solid placing, but also crashed off the slippery circuit when fifth with 10 laps to go.
Marco Melandri, who before the race revealed that he had secured a release from his Ducati contract for the 2009 season, was another casualty as he also skidded off during the eighth lap.
Earlier, Italy's Marco Simoncelli moved to the top of the 250cc world standings with victory ahead of Spain's Hector Barbera and Alvaro Bautista, while previous leader Mika Kallio of Finland could finish only fourth.
Mike di Meglio of France won the 125cc race ahead of Germany's Stefan Bradl and Gabor Talmacsi of Hungary.
Former champion Valentino Rossi took over at the top of the standings as he defied the rain at Sachsenring to claim second place behind Stoner, whose fellow Australian Chris Vermuelen was third.
Stoner consolidated third place overall as his nearest rivals Jorge Lorenzo and Colin Edwards joined Pedrosa in tumbling off their bikes.
Pedrosa made a sizzling start to the race as he passed polesitter Stoner to take a comfortable seven-second lead, and then saw compatriot Lorenzo crash out on just the third lap of the 30.
Pedrosa did not last much longer, as his Honda slipped out from underneath him on the next lap on a corner and sent him aquaplaning off the track, across the gravel and into the safety barriers.
He picked himself up after the spectacular spill, seeming to be holding his left wrist, but there were no reports on his fitness ahead of the next round at Laguna Seca in the United States next week.
Stoner took over the lead on his Ducati and experienced no such problems with his Bridgestone tires as he cruised to victory ahead of Yamaha's five-time champion Rossi, who now leads Pedrosa by 16 points
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"I am very excited about the result as it has seen me take back the overall lead," Rossi told reporters. "I eventually got up to a great pace and very close to Casey. These 20 points are very important."Stoner, who gave Ducati the team's first victory in the event after starting a fourth successive race in pole position, closed to within four points of Pedrosa on 167.
"I have been feeling sick since Saturday morning and my concentration levels were low," Stoner said. "I was losing it in all different places. We were lucky to come out of this with the victory."
Vermuelen claimed his first podium placing this year for Suzuki as he held off Italian Alex de Angelis.
Veteran American Edwards had seemed set to continue his resurgence with another solid placing, but also crashed off the slippery circuit when fifth with 10 laps to go.
Marco Melandri, who before the race revealed that he had secured a release from his Ducati contract for the 2009 season, was another casualty as he also skidded off during the eighth lap.
Earlier, Italy's Marco Simoncelli moved to the top of the 250cc world standings with victory ahead of Spain's Hector Barbera and Alvaro Bautista, while previous leader Mika Kallio of Finland could finish only fourth.
Mike di Meglio of France won the 125cc race ahead of Germany's Stefan Bradl and Gabor Talmacsi of Hungary.
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