Rossi clear in MotoGP

Valentino Rossi made it five wins from six races with victory in the Catalunya Grand Prix to extend his lead at the top of the MotoGP world championship standings to 58 points.

The Gauloises Yamaha rider made a poor start to the race, dropping from third on the grid to sixth, but was soon pushing home rider Sete Gibernau for the race win.

Rossi demoted Movistar Honda rider Gibernau to second in the closing stages of the race as the Spaniard’s team-mate Marco Melandri took third after a long battle with the Camel Honda of Alex Barros and the Repsol Honda of Nicky Hayden.

Rossi admitted he had been able to make up ground on Gibernau towards the end of the race because he had chosen a harder compound front tyre than his rival.