MotoGP: Pedrosa Pulls a Stunner
Rennie Scaysbrook | September 11, 2016
Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda) was the surprise victor in a dramatic San Marino MotoGP event, stealing the top spot from home hero Valentino Rossi and his Movistar Yamaha teammate, Jorge Lorenzo.
Pedrosa’s victory marks the eighth different winner in 2016, an all-time first since the championship began in 1949 – and he did it from eighth on the grid.
Rossi looked odd-on for a win in front of his adoring home fans, taking the lead from Lorenzo early and pushing the reigning champion wide, taking the lead and leaving Lorenzo and Marquez to chase him down – with Pedrosa the fastest man on track and setting a new lap record. Making a move against his teammate Marc Marquez look easy and getting down into the 1:32s, Pedrosa was on the charge.
He dealt with Lorenzo, then set after Rossi, hunting him down and on lap 22, the Spaniard made the decisive race winning pass and left Rossi in his wake. Lorenzo completed the podium from a distant Marc Marquez, with Suzuki Ecstar’s Maverick Vinales completing the top five.