Fiat Yamaha's Valentino Rossi took a wonderful win at Estoril this afternoon following a brilliant battle at the front with Repsol Honda's Dani Pedrosa - to temporarily put Casey Stoner's title celebrations on hold.
The bwin.com Grande Premio de Portugal saw Rossi duelling with Pedrosa throughout the final stages of the race, eventually crossing the line just 0.175s in front of the Spanish rider to claim his fourth victory of the season and his first win since Assen in June.
he result was great news for Yamaha with Rossi making the most of his recently updated M1 800cc prototype machinery - with its new pneumatic engine - answering the critics in style after his Misano setback.
Third placed Stoner will have to put the champagne on ice for now as he saw his advantage at the head of the general standings drop to 76 points, but the young Aussie nonetheless rode with great maturity to secure the final podium spot and he will still be confident of clinching the title over the next two rounds.
With pole man Nicky Hayden finishing fourth at the scene of his 2006 heartbreak, Michelin demonstrated improved competitiveness with three riders in the top four.
Another solid run from Honda Gresini's Marco Melandri resulted in a top five finish, whilst John Hopkins came home sixth having started in his lowest grid position of 2007 in tenth.
Spanish pair Carlos Checa (Honda LCR) and Toni Elias (Honda Gresini) were seventh and eighth respectively, with Ducati Marlboro's Loris Capirossi and Fiat Yamaha's Colin Edwards completing the top ten.
DORNA / CAPSIS International
1. V.ROSSI
2. D.PEDROSA
3. C.STONER