Marco Simoncelli in San Marino ahead of local hero Valentino Rossi and Alvaro Bautista.
Many expected a close battle between current Championship leader Lorenzo and Repsol Honda rider
Dani Pedrosa, who was aiming to close the gap to the Yamaha Factory rider. After two warm-up laps,
Pedrosa started from the back, after a brake issue. After a good start, Pedrosa was hit from behind
by his fellow compatriot Hector Barbera, with both Spaniards out of the race.
Italian Ducati rider Valentino Rossi brought joy to all of the fans by finishing 4.398 seconds
behind his next year's team mate, giving the Ducati team something to be happy about. Spanish
San Carlo Honda Gresini rider Alvaro Bautista earned his first podium finish this season, fending
off a late charge by Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider Andrea Dovizioso. It was an emotional weekend in
Misano for the San Carlo Honda Gresini team, with tributes being paid at the circuit to their rider
Marco Simoncelli, who died in Sepang Malaysia last year.
American Yamaha rider Ben Spies came in fifth, ousting German LCR Honda rider Stefan Bradl, who was chasing Ducati's Valentino Rossi for a long time during the race. American Ducati rider Nicky Hayden, who returned to action this weekend after his injury, finished in seventh.
WSBK rider Jonathan Rea, who replaced current World Champion Casey Stoner, finished in eighth. Frenchman Randy de Puniet was the top CRT rider this weekend in ninth and Italian Michele Pirro completed the top ten.
With Spanish Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa not finishing at Misano, the gap between him and current Championship leader Jorge Lorenzo has increased from 13 points to 38 points.
