It was a Repsol Honda success story at the Sachsenring in Germany this afternoon, with Dani Pedrosa taking his first victory in more than a year and Nicky Hayden recording another podium finish at the Alice Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland.
The Honda pair sandwiched Ducati Marlboro's Loris Capirossi on the podium as the Italian came home second, while Fiat Yamaha's Colin Edwards was fourth and Casey Stoner picked up more valuable championship points in fifth.
A fifth lap crash for Valentino Rossi ended his participation due to a damaged handlebar, the Italian attempting to remount after losing control when trying to overtake Kawasaki's Randy de Puniet for sixth place.
Things would have been worse for Rossi had Stoner achieved another victory, but when the Australian crossed the line fifth he nonetheless extended his title advantage to 32 points - while Pedrosa's success this afternoon takes him to within 20 points of the Italian in the standings.
Former 250cc World Champion Pedrosa rode an excellent race to lead from the first lap and secure his first win since Donington last year, his winning margin of 13.166s being the biggest in the MotoGP class this season.
Meanwhile Hayden came third for the fourth consecutive season at Sachsenring to boost his confidence again, after his Assen success, ahead of his home race next weekend.
There were more championship points for Gresini Honda's Marco Melandri, Rizla Suzuki's John Hopkins and Kawasaki's impressive Anthony West who were sixth, seventh and eighth consecutively, while home rider Alex Hofmann came home ninth.
Hofmann's Pramac d'Antin colleague Alex Barros crashed out on lap ten when in seventh position, while Dunlop Yamaha Tech 3's Sylvain Guintoli's race was finished on lap four as he suffered an accident. There was further French disappointment for Guintoli's compatriot De Puniet, who appeared to be experiencing a problem with his Ninja ZX-RR towards the end of the 30 lap contest and frustratingly retired on the final lap.
DORNA / CAPSIS International
1. D.PEDROSA
2. L.CAPIROSSI
3. N.HAYDEN