Victory just what the Doctor ordered

Rossi wins the San Marino Grand Prix.

Seven-time world champion Valentino Rossi equalled the record of 68 wins in the top MotoGP category when he won the San Marino Grand Prix last night from team-mate Jorge Lorenzo and Spaniard Toni Elias.

It also stretched the Yamaha rider's lead in the world championship standings to 75 points with just five races left.

Pole-sitter and reigning world champion Casey Stoner crashed out on lap six while leading, handing Rossi a clear run.

Stoner remains second in the world championship race but just two points ahead of Spain's Dani Pedrosa after the Honda Repsol rider finished fourth.

The Australian had flown off the start line and built up a lead of three seconds by the end of the second lap. Pedrosa had the quickest start and went from sixth to second within the first few corners, leaving Rossi frustrated in being unable to challenge Stoner from the start.

But the little Spaniard didn't have the pace to hold off Rossi, who was soon up to second.

When Stoner skidded off the track Rossi coasted to victory with Spaniard Lorenzo overtaking his countryman Pedrosa before the Honda rider was relegated to third among his kinsmen as Elias also sailed past.

In the 250cc race Spaniard Alvaro Bautista, a former world champion at 125cc, won over Japan's Yuki Takahashi with compatriot Hector Barbera in third. Italian Marco Simoncelli still leads the standings.

Reigning champion Gabor Talmacsi of Hungary led an Aprilia 1-2-3 finish in the 125cc race from Britain's Bradley Smith and Italy's Simone Corsi.