Casey Stoner wins US Grand Prix, increases title lead

Australia’s Casey Stoner has increased his lead at the top of the MotoGP standings after a superb victory in the US Grand Prix at Laguna Seca Raceway today.

Stoner overtook Spanish rider Jorge Lorenzo with six laps remaining on the tricky circuit to claim the victory and take his points total to 193, 20 more than defending world champion Lorenzo, who had started from pole despite a crash in practice on Saturday. 


Stoner’s teammate Dani Pedrosa finished third.

Stoner won in 43min 52.145sec, more than five seconds ahead of Lorenzo, for his fifth victory of the season.

Lorenzo led for much of the race until Stoner surged past him, winning by 5.634 seconds.

Italy’s Andrea Dovizioso finished fifth behind teammate Ben Spies. Dovizioso remains in third on the MotoGP standings with 143 points.

The Ducatis of Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden finished sixth and seventh.

France's Randy de Puniet didn't start after suffering two broken vertebrae and a suspected broken pelvis when he crashed his Ducati in qualifying on Saturday.