Dani Pedrosa edged out Italians Velentino Rossi to claim the championship lead from Casey Stoner as the Australian struggled on his Ducati at the Spanish Moto Grand Prix in Jerez.

Pedrosa rocketed past pole sitter and arch-rival Jorge Lorenzo to take the lead on the first corner and proceeded to lay down a series of blistering laps on his way to an emphatic victory in front of his home fans.

Five-times MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi claimed second place, just under three seconds behind Pedrosa, despite thinking the race had ended a lap before the end while his Yamaha team mate and MotoGP rookie Lorenzo finished third.

Lorenzo is the first rider since Max Biaggi in 1998 to achieve podium finishes in his first two appearances in the premier class.

American Nicky Hayden was fourth on his Honda but defending champion Stoner finished back in 11th place after taking two detours on the gravel on his Ducati.

Fellow Australian Chris Vermuellen was tenth on his Suzuki and Anthony West 13th for Kawasaki.

Loris Capirossi was a distant fifth, while Britain's former world superbike champion James Toseland, who has been suffering from bronchitis, repeated the sixth-place finish he achieved in Qatar.

Pedrosa, who finished third in the season-opener in Qatar, leads the championship standings with 41 points, five clear of countryman Lorenzo, while Rossi is in third on 31 points, one ahead of Stoner.

"I got off to a good start and winning in front of the fans here is a fantastic feeling," said Pedrosa. "It is a very special day for me."

Rossi, who claimed his 100th premier-class podium finish with his second place, has not won a race since Portugal in September last year, his longest winless streak since his victory at Donington in 2000.

But the 29-year-old Italian was delighted with his performance at a track where he has chalked up five premier-class wins.

"I was a bit lucky because I thought the race had finished at the start of the last lap, but I had a bit of an advantage over Lorenzo," said Rossi.

"It was a good result and important to get a first podium finish on the Bridgestone tyres. I enjoyed the race, but Pedrosa was just too fast."

King Juan Carlos of Spain, who presented the trophies, ended the day on a light-hearted note when he forced arch-rivals Pedrosa and Lorenzo to shake hands before stepping out on to the podium.

Finnish rider Mika Kallio snatched a dramatic win in the 250cc race after leading pair Alvaro Bautista and Marco Simoncelli collided on the last lap of the race.

Italy's Simone Corsi won the 125cc race to notch up his second victory of his career and take over at the top of the world championship standings.

Aprilia teammate Nicolas Terol of Spain was second, while Britain's Bradley Smith won an exciting duel with Stefan Bradl to claim his second career rostrum.

AAP