Pedrosa wins in Valencia

MotoGP: Spain's Dani Pedrosa snatched the runners-up spot in the MotoGP world championship with victory in the season-ending…

MotoGP:Spain's Dani Pedrosa snatched the runners-up spot in the MotoGP world championship with victory in the season-ending Valencia Grand Prix after rival Valentino Rossi had to retire because of a technical problem.

It was the first time that five-times world champion Rossi has finished outside the top two in any category since claiming ninth place in his rookie season in the 125cc class in 1996.

Pedrosa, who crossed the line over five seconds ahead of newly crowned world champion Casey Stoner, became the first rider to win at Valencia in all three classes with his emphatic victory on home soil.

The 22-year-old finished the season just a point ahead of Yamaha rival Rossi who started the race despite breaking his right hand in three places during a crash in qualifying.

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Stoner, who won 10 of the 18 races this season on his Ducati, finished top of the final standings with 367 points, Pedrosa was second with 242 and Rossi third on 241.

Suzuki rider John Hopkins crossed the line in third ahead of Italian duo Marcos Melandri and Loris Capirossi to take fourth position in the championship.

The 37-year-old Brazilian Alex Barros finished seventh behind Chris Vermeulen in his final race before retiring while Spain's Carlos Checa, who is moving to Superbikes next year, was 12th.