Dani Pedrosa produced a masterclass to clinch a stunning victory at the San Marino Grand Prix and deny home favourite Valentino Rossi a popular win.
It has been a miserable MotoGP season for Pedrosa, who had managed just two podium finishes in 2016, but the Repsol Honda rider was lightning quick around the Misano track and fought his way from eighth on the grid to the top of the pile, with Rossi consigned to second and Movistar Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo third.
Defending champion Lorenzo had set a new track record to take pole on Saturday and was the favourite for victory, but he was passed early doors by Rossi much to the delight of the spectators.
Championship leader Marc Marquez was soon on Lorenzo's tail, however it was Pedrosa clocking the quickest times and he passed team-mate Marquez with 15 laps remaining.
Lorenzo fended off Pedrosa for a while before eventually yielding second place with 11 laps remaining, his attempts to block proving fruitless.
Now with no protection, Rossi was quickly losing time to Pedrosa and he made the pass on the Italian with a surprise attack at turn four with eight laps to go and quickly sped away to make it eight different winners in the past eight races.
PERFECT PEDROSA DOES MARQUEZ A FAVOUR
When Pedrosa overtook Marquez for third it initially looked like he would damage his team-mate's lead in the riders' standings. However, by surpassing both Yamaha riders he actually ensured that it was damage limitation for Marquez.
ROSSI MAKES INROADS
Rossi was the partisan favourite at Misano and he made the early running with his pass of Lorenzo. While he may not have taken victory, the Italian did at least chip seven points off the 50-point gap to Marquez. Pedrosa's victory sends him up to fourth in the drivers' standings.
TOUGH DAY FOR VINALES
Maverick Vinales celebrated a maiden MotoGP victory last time out at Silverstone and started third on the grid at Misano. However, the Suzuki rider was slow off the line and eventually placed fifth, having at one stage been ordered to hand a place back to Andrea Dovisiozo (Ducati) for a track infringement.
TOP 10
1. Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda) 43:43.524secs
2. Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha) +2.837s
3. Jorge Lorenzo (Movistar Yamaha) +4.359s
4. Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) +9.569s
5. Maverick Vinales (Suzuki Ecstar) +15.467s
6. Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati) +19.676s
7. Michele Pirro (Ducati) +22.936s
8. Pol Espargaro (Monster Yamaha) +27.155s
9. Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) +27.202s
10. Alvaro Bautista (Aprilia) +33.968s
TITLE STANDINGS
1. Marc Marquez 223
2. Valentino Rossi 180 (-43)
3. Jorge Lorenzo 162 (-61)
4. Dani Pedrosa 145 (-78)
5. Maverick Vinales 136 (-87)
1. Repsol Honda 368
2. Movistar Yamaha 342 (-26)
3. Ducati 204 (-164)
4. Suzuki Ecstar 196 (-199)
5. Monster Yamaha 133 (-235)
NEXT UP
The riders now have a two-week break before resuming battle in Spain at the Aragon Grand Prix in round 14.
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