Mugello MotoGP 2008

After qualifying on pole, ahead of Pedrosa and Capirossi, Rossi powered past Casey Stoner to the lead on lap 4. Stoner had held out Pedrosa for second but ran wide on the same lap, letting the Repsol Honda through and dropping the Aussie back to third.. DePuniet took himself and Melandri out soon afterwards, and by lap 7 Hopkins joined them in the gravel.

The already injured Lorenzo lost the front on the same lap, crashing out of 5th place. By mid race Rossi had worked out a 2 second lead over Pedrosa and Stoner, with Stoner getting back by Pedrosa for 2nd. The pnuematic valved Honda debuted by Okada was circulating in last position.

Rossi eased out to a 3 second lead by lap 17, with Stoner and Pedrosa still locked together. 4th to 6th order was DeAngelis, Edwards and Toseland. This order would hold until the chequered flag.

Rossi's 122 points gives him a 12 point lead in the MotoGP championship over Pedrosa, who moves up into second in the points table over Lorenzo. Casey Stoners second place sees him in a distant fourth on 76 points.

1.Rossi
2.Stoner
3.Pedrosa
4.DeAngelis
5.Edwards
6.Toseland
7.Capirossi
8.Dovizioso
9.Nakano
10.Vermuelen