World Champion, Valentino Rossi won an exciting duel with Jorge Lorenzo to win the 500 cc MotoGP race at the Spanish MotoGP on Sunday. Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona witnessed superb racing from Rossi and Lorenzo. Spaniard Lorenzo was in pole position, while the Italian Rossi started second in the grid. 

The duo swapped positions many times during the course of the race. But, Rossi judged the timing to perfection as he sped past his Yamaha teammate on the last corner. This is Rossi’s second win in 2009. After 6 races, Rossi, Lorenzo, and the Australian Casey Stoner, who rides Ducati, are tied on 106 points each. Stoner finished third in Sunday’s race.

Rossi, 30, is a six-time MotoGP champion. He put all his skills to good use to fend off challenge from Lorenzo and deny him a win on home circuit. This was Rossi’s 99^th career win in all categories. Rossi and Lorenzo praised the intensity of the race during the press conference. Rossi said that the final lap had 2 or 3 superb braking manoeuvres. The battle was between the two Yamahas for the most part of the race. Lorenzo said Rossi was a deserving winner. He did not expect Rossi to overtake him at the last moment.

In the 125 cc category, Iannone from Italy won the race ahead of Spaniards Nicolas Terol and Sergio Gadea. The 250 cc race was won by championship leader, Alvaro Bautista of Spain, ahead of Hiroshi Aoyama of Japan and Spaniard Hector Barbera.