Stoner cruises as Toseland falls

Eurosport - Mon, 23 Jun 16:15:00 2008

Casey Stoner claimed a crushing victory in the British MotoGP at Donington Park while James Toseland suffered his fourth fall in two days.

Stoner, who started on pole for only the second time this season, crossed the line ahead of championship leader Valentino Rossi. The Italian's nearest rival, Dani Pedrosa of Spain, climbed from ninth on the grid to finish third.

The Australian, riding a Ducati, never looked in danger of surrendering his advantage and finished 5.789 seconds ahead of Rossi to take his first chequered flag since the season opener in Qatar.

Toseland, making his first MotoGP appearance on home soil, slid off the track on the first corner, losing control and making contact with John Hopkins' Kawasaki.

He remounted his Tech3 Yamaha, but trailed in a distant last place over a lap down and appeared to damage his right hand in the accident.

It completed a miserable weekend for the double World Superbike champion, who drew thousands of supporters to the East Midlands track.

Toseland fell three times on Saturday, twice during qualifying, and started just 16th on the grid.
Rossi extended his overall lead over Pedrosa to 11 points while Stoner moved ahead of Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo into third place, 45 points behind the four-times champion after eight races.

Earlier, Briton Scott Redding became the youngest Grand Prix race winner when he won the British 125cc race at the age of 15.

The rookie also recorded the first home win at the Donington Park circuit and ended his country's 451-race wait for a 125cc winner since Chas Mortimer won in Spain in 1973. Mike di Meglio of France retained the overall lead after finishing second.

Finland's Mika Kallio edged out Marco Simoncelli to win the 250cc section and stretch his championship lead over the Italian to eight points. Spain's Alex Debon finished third.