(openPR) - Spanish racer Dani Pedrosa won an audience with King Juan Carlos of Spain on Sunday, after a copybook start-to-finish victory in his home GP at Jerez in the south of the country.

The second race of the season also brought improvement from the Castrol-backed Gresini Honda riders, who both finished in the points.

The Pedrosa led from start to finish, while behind him Yamaha’s Valentino Rossi moved past team-mate and pole starter Jorge Lorenzo for second, his first rostrum of the year.

The race, run over 27 laps of the 4.423-km circuit, brought improved fortunes for the Castrol-backed team, with a strong top-ten finish for Shinya Nakano. Class rookie Alex de Angelis was also in the points, claiming 14th place to equal his qualifying position.

“I started well, and I was following the fast group … but in the middle of the race I lost some positions. In the end I was fighting with Vermeulen, and I overcame him two laps from the end,” said Nakano.

Class rookie De Angelis was disappointed after losing too many positions in the first lap to be able to fight back. “It was hard for me to recover,” he said.

Rossi’s second was lucky: the multiple champion miscounted the laps, and slowed as he crossed the line with one to go. “Luckily I had enough of a gap and Lorenzo didn’t come past. It’s best to laugh about these things,” he said ruefully.

Nicky Hayden was fourth on the second factory Honda, after challenging for second only to survive a near crash, losing touch again.

Suzuki’s Loris Capirossi won a fierce battle for fifth, gaining two places in a shoving and barging match in the last hairpin. James Toseland (Yamaha), John Hopkins (Kawasaki) and Andrea Dovizioso (Honda) followed him over the line, covered by less than a second.

The next race is the Portuguese GP on April 14

Top six finishers – Jerez

* 1. D. Pedrosa (Honda)
* 2. V. Rossi (Yamaha)
* 3. J. Lorenzo (Yamaha)
* 4. N. Hayden (Honda)
* 5. L. Capirossi (Suzuki)
* 6. J. Toseland (Yamaha)

Team News: Testing times for Castrol team

There will be no rest for the Castrol team riders after the Spanish GP, with a day of intensive testing at the Jerez circuit for both riders … and a range of tailor-made tyres to test. For class rookie Alex de Angelis, it is another chance to gain familiarity with the 800cc MotoGP bike, after switching from the 250 class. “I need all the experience I can get,” he said.

Race News: Tyre battle hots up at Jerez

The battle for supremacy between Bridgestone and Michelin remained even at Jerez. Each manufacturer has one win so far. The Castrol-backed Gresini team is with Bridgestone for a second year, and hope that the forthcoming tracks will tip the balance towards the Japanese tyres, which dominated last year. “Michelin have made big steps, and it’s a closer fight than last year,” said team principal Fausto Gresini. “But we remain happy with our decision to join Bridgestone last season. They work very hard for all their teams, making tyres for each rider’s special requirements.”

For more information on the Castrol-sponsored Honda Gresini team please visit the Racing and Sponsorship section of our homepage:

www.castrol.com/castrol/subsection.do?categoryId=9016838&...

For more information on Castrol's sponsorship activities related to sports please visit:

www.castrol.com/castrol/subsection.do?categoryId=9014774&...

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Motor Oil and Lubricants Castrol UK and Ireland
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Press contact: Caroline Topping
Phone: +44 (1793) 452781
eMail: Caroline.topping@uk.bp.com

Castrol is the world's leading specialist provider of lubricant products. Most people know Castrol oil for vehicles such as car oil, engine oil and synthetic oil as well as motorcycle oil. But there's not just Castrol motor oil, we also produce lubricants for vehicles in transport and construction industries, such as heavy goods vehicles, buses and earth moving machinery. Castrol UK feature the brands EDGE, Magnatec, GTX, SLX Professional, Elixion, Enduron and Tection among others.