Pedrosa triumphs to end season

Honda's Dani Pedrosa (right) and Valentino Rossi of Yamaha celebrate in Valencia.

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SPAIN'S Dani Pedrosa took advantage of a Casey Stoner crash on the warm-up lap to win the Valencia Grand Prix yesterday, his second victory of the season securing third place in the MotoGP world championship.

Ducati rider Stoner was due to start on pole and was bidding for a third straight win in the final race of the season but was unable to make the start after his error. Pedrosa's victory at his home race lifted the Honda pilot above the Australian to third in the standings behind compatriot Jorge Lorenzo and champion Valentino Rossi.

Italian Rossi, who clinched his second successive MotoGP title in Malaysia last month, finished second in a sunny Valencia, almost three seconds behind Pedrosa, while Yamaha teammate Lorenzo was third.

Earlier, Hiroshi Aoyama of Japan won the last-ever 250cc world title when he recovered from running off the circuit to finish seventh.

The Honda rider needed to come in 11th or higher to secure his first championship and the final 250cc title before the category is replaced by the new Moto2 class from next year.

He went off the track on lap nine and dropped down to 11th but his task was made easier when nearest title rival Marco Simoncelli crashed out while leading with seven laps left.

Hector Barbera won the race, making sure of second place in the championship table ahead of Gilera rider Simoncelli.

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