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Rossi wins accident-strewn Catalonia GP
Valentino Rossi has continued his resurgence with an excellent win in the Catalonia Grand Prix, in a race that will be remembered for the spectacular early crash that marred it.
Rossi overcame a poor and error-ridden start to overtake early leader Casey Stoner on lap eight and in spite of some late pressure from Nicky Hayden did not relinquish first place, finishing four seconds ahead of the American for his second consecutive GP win.
However, the 27-year-old's revival was overshadowed by an early crash that forced the race to be delayed for half an hour. Spaniard Sete Gibernau's bike overturned as the riders took the first corner, unseating John Hopkins, Marco Melandri, Dani Pedrosa, Loris Capirossi and Randy de Puniet in the process.
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Rossi said after the race: "The start was difficult. Normally it is hard to concentrate, but after a crash like the one we saw today it is even more so. I was especially worried about the condition of Marco Melandri, who seemed to come out badly from the first-corner incident."
Rossi has now climbed to third in the overall table, obscuring the poor form that dogged him early on this season, while runner-up Hayden took advantage of Capirossi's absence from the remainder of proceedings to increase his leadership of this year's championship.
Melandri and Gibernau both suffered concussion and collarbone injuries as a result of the accident. Both were hospitalised, as was Capirossi, although it has been announced that the Italian Ducati rider will be fit to race in the forthcoming Assen GP.
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