Rossi pips Lorenzo in epic finale

Valentino Rossi held off the challenge of team-mate Jorge Lorenzo in a thrilling final lap to win the Catalunya Grand Prix in Barcelona.

Casey Stoner finished third, which means that he, Rossi, Lorenzo and are now all level at the top of the championship standings on 106 points.

Rossi led for the first half of the race before allowing Lorenzo through.

The lead changed hands three times on the last lap before Rossi stole his 99th career win on the last corner.

"In Italian, for a race like this we say 'mamma mia!'" said Rossi afterwards.

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" That last lap had me jumping up and down screaming, my heart rate went into the red, utterly fantastic "

"It was a great battle, the two Yamahas were flying on this track.

"After some laps I knew I had to fight and it was a great fight to the end, I wasn't sure of the result until the end."

Lorenzo was respectful of his more experienced team-mate after their thrilling battle.

"I'm used to normally winning the battles, but today I had a battle with the best and I couldn't beat him, he was more clever and brave," he said.

"In the easiest corner to maintain first position, he overtook me so I have to learn a lot of things still in this category."

Third-placed Stoner looked physically drained after the race, and revealed he had not been fully fit.

"I've been slowly getting a little more sore and sick each day, and I was cramping after the warm-up," he said.

"I was really afraid to finish the race -halfway through I just gave up, I had nothing left, and I decided to just run for the points."

Catalunya MotoGP race result:

1 V Rossi (It) Fiat Yamaha 43'11.897
2 J Lorenzo (Sp) Fiat Yamaha 43'11.992
3 C Stoner (Aus) Ducati 43'20.781
4 A Dovizioso (It) Honda 43'20.833
5 L Capirossi (It) Suzuki 43'31.728
6 D Pedrosa (Sp) Honda 43'34.079
7 C Edwards (US) Tech 3 Yamaha 43'35.444
8 R de Puniet (Fr) Honda 43'37.162
9 M Kallio (Fin) Ducati 43'43.694
10 N Hayden (US) Ducati 43'45.490
11 C Vermeuluen (Aus) Suzuki 43'48.580
12 A de Angelis (SMR) Honda 43'48.771
13 J Toseland (GB) Tech 3 Yamaha 43'51.330
14 M Melandri (It) Kawasaki 43'56.685
15 S Gibernau (Sp) Ducati 43'58.651
16 N Canepa (Ita) Ducati 44'07.770
17 G Talmacsi (Hng) Scot Racing Honda 44'39.537

MotoGP world championship standings:

1 V Rossi (Ita) Yamaha 106
2 J Lorenzo (Spn) Yamaha 106
3 C Stoner (Aus) Ducati 106
4 A Dovizioso (Ita) Honda 69
5 D Pedrosa (Spn) Honda 67
6 C Edwards (US) Yamaha 54
7 M Melandri (Ita) Kawasaki 50
8 L Capirossi (Ita) Suzuki 49
9 R de Puniet (Fr) Honda 42
10 C Vermeulen (Aus) Suzuki 42
11 J Toseland (GB) Yamaha 29
12 M Kallio (Fin) Ducati 26
13 A de Angelis (RSM) Honda 25
14 T Elias (Spn) Honda 23
15 N Hayden (US) Ducati 19
16 N Canepa (Ita) Ducati 10
17 S Gibernau (Spn) Ducati 9
18 Y Takahashi (Japan) Honda 8

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