Valentino Rossi tightened his grip on the MotoGP world championship lead, winning the Czech GP at Brno while Casey Stoner crashed out. Reigning champion Stoner lost the front end of his Ducati while leading on lap seven of 22, sliding into the gravel. Although he briefly rejoined the race the Australian retired the following lap as his bike was too badly damaged. Rossi cruised to a dominant win, crossing the line over 15 seconds ahead of Alice Ducati’s Toni Elias, with Rizla Suzuki veteran Loris Capirossi third.

Colpo di scena al settimo giro del GP della Repubblica Ceca: l’australiano della Ducati che era al comando ma sotto la pressione di Valentino scivola e si ritira. Il pesarese Rossi vince e ora ha 50 punti di vantaggio.

Valentino Rossi extended his Moto GP championship lead after a fascinating duel with Casey Stoner saw him claim his maiden victory at the United States MotoGP at Laguna Seca. There had been nothing to choose between the pair until Stoner rode into the gravel with eight laps remaining and although he managed to get back into the race, the Australian could not claw back the gap. However, the duo had built up such a lead that the Ducati of Stoner was still able to finish ahead of Chris Vermeulen in third with Britain’s James Toseland finishing ninth.

Per la prima volta, Valentino Rossi trionfa nel GP degli Stati Uniti: subito in fuga insieme all’australiano (polemico a fine gara), ha approfittato di un errore del pilota della Ducati a 8 giri dal termine e lo ha preceduto sul traguardo, portandosi a +25 sul rivale nel Mondiale. Terzo Vermeulen, quarto Dovizioso.

Valentino Rossi escaped from the pack to claim his magnificent seventh consecutive home Mugello victory in dominant style in Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix. Rossi, riding under bright sunshine and in front of almost 100,000 trackside fans, got a bad start from pole position an was only fourth through the first sequence of corners, behind Dani Pedrosa, Casey Stoner and Loris Capirossi. But The Doctor worked his way clinically forwards, passing Capirossi’s Suzuki on the opening lap and immediately closing the slight gap to his title rivals. Stoner’s powerful Ducati got the better of Pedrosa along the home straight on lap 2 of 23, with Rossi dropping the Repsol Honda rider back to third later on the same lap. The Fiat Yamaha star then took the race lead from Stoner with a clever inside move through a downhill turn and the face painted on the top of Rossi’s special Mugello helmet never looked back.

Come se corresse nel cortile di casa. Pole e vittoria, la settima consecutiva su questa pista. Valentino Rossi ha domato per l’ennesima volta il Mugello e i suoi rivali, e così ha allungato ancora in testa al Mondiale MotoGP. E’ lui l’uomo del giorno al GP d’Italia. E con lui, che ha messo in fila Casey Stoner (Ducati) e Daniel Pedrosa (Honda), va celebrato anche un grande Alex De Angelis, quarto sul traguardo con la Honda del team Gresini. Il tutto dopo una rimonta strepitosa dopo una partenza poco felice.

Valentino Rossi fought from fourth on the grid to win the French MotoGP at Le Mans by almost five seconds from Fiat Yamaha team-mate and rookie sensation Jorge Lorenzo, who began in fifth. Briton James Toseland of Yamaha Tech 3 retired only two laps in while his team-mate Colin Edwards took third.

The finish means that Italian Rossi takes over at the top of the riders’ standings with 97 points, while Spaniards Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa - who finished fourth after a battle with American Edwards - are level on 94.

Reigning world champion Casey Stoner was fifth after holding a podium position for several laps and is fourth overall, a massive 38 points further back.

Valentino Rossi ha vinto il GP di Francia classe MotoGP, quinta prova del Mondiale 2008. Il pesarese della Yamaha ha dominato davanti ai compagni di marca Jorge Lorenzo e Colin Edwards. Quarto Daniel Pedrosa, sesto Andrea Dovizioso, settimo Loris Capirossi. Nel Mondiale Rossi ha così conquistato la testa.