Win for Pedrosa

Wednesday, 05 October 2011 14:01

Written by Editor

Dani Pedrosa has taken Honda's first home Japanese Grand Prix victory since 2004, at the same Motegi circuit where his title hopes came to a painful end with a broken collarbone last season. The incident-packed grand prix contained three ride-through penalties, five accidents, a rare mistake while leading by Casey Stoner – Stoner recovered from going off the track to take third behind Pedrosa and Lorenzo as his lead over Lorenzo at the top of the standings was cut to 40 points.

Stoner and Lorenzo had both declared in July that they would not race in Japan because of safety concerns following March's earthquake, but all the riders were there at the start.

The race  was only given the go-ahead after an independent investigation showed there was no risk of radiation. All riders eventually agreed to race in what proved to be a thriller on a circuit which had been 70% resurfaced following damage in the earthquake. The Motegi circuit is situated less than 100 miles from the site of the Fukushima nuclear plant, which suffered nuclear leaks in the wake of the devastating magnitude 9.0 quake and subsequent tsunami.

Stoner will start his home Australian Grand Prix, at Phillip Island on October 16th, with a 40-point lead over Lorenzo, with 75 points remaining.