Valentino Rossi still leads the MotoGP premier class general standings
With three rounds remaining, Rossi still leads the championship in the premiere class by 18 points over his Spanish teammate, Jorge Lorenzo.
Valentino Rossi, who is getting close to clinch his seventh premier class title, one less than that of MotoGP legend; Giacomo Agostini, has won six races so far, and has been on pole at six rounds, Motegi, Assen, Sachsenring, Donington Park, Brno and Misano. He has won six races thus far, and has been on the podium on 10 occasions, with three 2nd and one 3rd place. He stands at the top of the standings with 250 points.
Next up, Jorge Lorenzo, who stands at the second spot in the general standing, 18 points behind the leader; Valentino Rossi, with 232 points. His qualifying form has been excellent as he has yet to qualify off the front row this season. He has been on the podium on eleven occasions, with four wins, the latest of which he got at Estoril, five 2nd places and two 3rd places. He has been on the podium whenever he has finished the race in this season. However, he has three DNFs this season, at Jerez, Donington Park, and Brno. He will ride for Fiat Yamaha factory team next season, along with teammate Rossi. He still has to cover the deficit of 18 points over his Italian teammate, over the last three races.
Dani Pedrosa, who is a Factory Honda rider, sits on the third spot, only three points ahead of Casey Stoner, with 173 points. However, his qualifying performance is not very consistent but he overcomes this weakness with his trademark race starts, and he takes the hole shot in almost every race. He has stepped onto the podium on eight occasions, with a win at Laguna Seca, which ended the winless run for Honda riders for more than a year, two 2nd spots and five third places. He has two DNFs so far.
Casey Stoner, who rides for Ducati Marlboro, is fourth in the general standings with 170 points. He has won two races, at Qatar and Mugello. He was away, on leave for two months, as he was recovering from a mysterious illness that kept him from challenging other riders for the win. However, on his return at the 14th round at Estoril, he took a 2nd position, behind Lorenzo, which meant that he was back to his true racing form. However, his aim now will be to beat Dani to third place in the standings.
Andrea Dovizioso, teammate to Dani Pedrosa, is fifth in the standing with 142 points just eight points ahead of Colin Edwards (Monster Yamaha Tech 3).