JEREZ - Valentino Rossi started his quest for a fifth successive world title in controversial style yesterday, winning the Spanish Grand Prix after his main rival, Sete Gibernau, was forced off the track at the last corner.
Gibernau, the winner here last year, had led on his Honda for allbut the last two of the 27 laps, when Yamaha rider Rossi finally forced his way past on the inside.
The pair, first and second in the title race for the past two years, raced wheel-to-wheel and swapped leads in the season-opening race.
It looked as though Gibernau just had the edge heading out of the penultimate turn before Rossi forced his way through on the inside and the two bikes made contact broadside.
Gibernau was forced on to the gravel trap and Rossi was left free to cruise across the line with his front wheel raised in triumph.
A grim-faced Gibernau, who had hoped to give the 127,089 crowd something to cheer about, refused to talk about the final lap, merely saying he would not be appealing and that he was nursing an injured shoulder.
Rossi, who notched up his sixth victory at all levels at Jerez and an incredible 43rd win in 81 grands prix in the top class, was happy to describe the controversial incident.
"It was a very tough race," the 26-year-old Italian said.
"I was fastest at the exit of [the penultimate corner] and at the moment of braking I was already at the middle of Sete's bike.
"He moved to close the line, but I had a small, small gap - maybe half a metre - to overtake and it was the only way. It's hard and I know Sete's angry now, but that's racing."
Italian team-mate Marco Melandri finished third, taking advantage of American Honda rider Nicky Hayden's crash on lap 20 to match his best result in a MotoGP race.
Earlier, the crowd were able to celebrate a victory for Honda and Spain when 250cc world champion Dani Pedrosa took his first career win at his home grand prix.
Italian Marco Simoncelli won the 125cc race on his Aprilia for the second year in a row.
