Yamaha MotoGP rider Valentino Rossi of Italy celebrates after winning the race during the Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez last Sunday. - REUTERS photo

JEREZ, Spain (AP):

Valentino Rossi of Italy won the Spanish Grand Prix last Sunday to take the lead in the overall standings.

The seven-time world champion finished in 45 minutes, 53.340 seconds, to beat Honda rider Dani Pedrosa by 1.246 seconds. Pedrosa, who started in the pole position, ended with 45:54.586, after closing in on Rossi who was leading by 3.273 seconds with five of the 27 laps to go.

"Winning in front of this crowd is fantastic, I like this track very much," Rossi said after his fifth victory here since 2001.

Finished third

Colin Edwards of the United States started third and the two-time World Superbike champion also finished third on a Yamaha with 45:56.041.

Defending world champion Nicky Hayden finished seventh and the American is now sixth in the standings.

After two races, Yamaha rider Rossi leads Casey Stoner of Australia and Pedrosa by nine points. Rossi has 45 while Stoner, fifth in Sunday's race, and Pedrosa are tied for second with 36.

85th GP victory

It was Rossi's first win in six races and his 85th GP victory, with 59 in the premier class.

"Today was a great emotion for me," said Rossi. "I think it was back to September last year that I last won a race so this is a great win for me. I must say thank you to my team. My Yamaha worked very, very well."

Pedrosa was trying to win in front of a 120,000 home crowd.

"The pace was very fast in the beginning and I was trying really hard not to lose too much ground to Valentino," the Spaniard said. "I felt a little bit sorry for the fans because I really wanted to win for them because they are so passionate."