Photography by Gold & Goose
Repsol Honda’s Dani Pedrosa has taken an unexpected victory in the Japanese MotoGP after the leading Movistar Yamahas of Jorge Lorenzo and championship leader Valentino Rossi both ran into front tire problems.
In treacherous wet but slowly drying conditions at the Twin Ring Motegi venue, Pedrosa started slow but gradually clawed back positions, passing the Ducati of Andrea Dovizioso before hunting down the Movistar Yamahas of Rossi and early race leader Lorenzo to take his first win of the season and the 50th Grand Prix victory of his career.
Rossi took the holeshot at the start but it would only last one corner as Lorenzo scythed past at Turn Two and began his disappearing act of Aragon two weeks earlier. He would build a lead of just over three seconds from Rossi and was seemingly in cruise control for another win by the half way stage of the race, however this time it would not last, with the Majorcan running into serious tire issues.
Pedrosa, riding nearly two seconds a lap faster than the Yamaha duo first caught and passed Rossi, then Lorenzo, and cleared off for an easy win.
Drama later followed as Rossi had been carefully following Pedrosa’s wheeltracks, steadily closing back up on teammate Lorenzo and pouncing when his teammate ran wide at Turn Two, his front tire all but destroyed.
Rossi held second to the flag and now stands 18 points clear of Lorenzo in the 2015 MotoGP World Championship with three rounds remaining.
Pedorosa’s teammate Marc Marquez finished fourth in what was a tough weekend for the defending two time MotoGP World Champion after breaking fingers on his left hand in a mountain bike accident last weekend.
Ducati Team’s Andrea Dovizioso took fifth place.
1 Dani Pedrosa Spa Honda 46:50.767
2 Valentino Rossi Ita Yamaha +8.573
3 Jorge Lorenzo Spa Yamaha +12.127
4 Marc Marquez Spa Honda +27.841
5 Andrea Dovizioso Ita Ducati +35.085
6 Cal Crutchlow Gbr Honda +37.263
7 Bradley Smith Gbr Yamaha +37.667
8 Katsuyuki Nakasuga Jpn Yamaha +44.654
9 Hector Barbera Spa Ducati +48.572
10 Scott Redding Gbr Honda +50.121
