Hayden, the series leader, lengthened the gap with his rivals when he clinched his second straight US Grand Prix before a wildly cheering home crowd at Laguna Seca.

Stoner, who had a blazing start to his debut season, slid off the track on lap 15 after losing a one-on-one battle with Spanish rival Dani Pedrosa.

BARCELONA: MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi, riding a Yamaha, won a crash-marred Catalan Grand Prix for the third year in a row yesterday to move back into the title reckoning. 

American Nicky Hayden was second on a Honda to take the outright lead in the standings while compatriot Kenny Roberts was third on a KR211V for the team run by his father and namesake. 

 In the 250-cc race, Spain's Jorge Lorenzo was first and in the 125-cc, Italy's Mattia Pasini was the victor.

 Defending world MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi won the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday, his fifth straight victory at the Mugello circuit.

The Yamaha rider overtook Loris Capirossi in the next-to-last lap and just held off passing attempts by the fellow Italian on his Ducati.

Nicky Hayden of the United States was third on a Honda, ahead of Spanish MotoGP rookie Dani Pedrosa.

Rossi's second GP win of the season revived his hopes of retaining his world title.

In the 250-cc race, Spain's Jorge Lorenzo edged Aprilia teammate Alex De Angelis by one thousandth of a second.

In the 125-cc race, Mattia Pasini of Italy was the victor, ahead of Spain's Alvaro Bautista for another 1-2 finish by Aprilia.