Moto GP Round 4 - Shanghai

In hot conditions after the qualifying sessions were interrupted by rain, Colin Edwards and Pedrosa set a cracking pace before the Honda pulled away from Edwards' Yamaha. Again, Rossi had mechanical problems and withdrew on lap 17 with tyre issues, a suspected problem with the rear tyre later diagnosed as coming from the front tyre.

Having started thirteenth on the grid, Rossi had been running as high as fifth place. Casey Stoner again put up a strong performance to finish fifth, while Chris Vermeulen crashed out of the race on the fourth lap after starting from 12th. Vermeulen's Suzuki team mate John Hopkins, turned good qualifying pace (second) into a good race pace, sticking close to Edwards for fourth place at the finish.

Results: Pedrosa, Hayden, Edwards, Hopkins, Stoner, Tamada, Melandri, Capirossi, Gibernau, Nakano.

Standings: Hayden 72, Capirossi 59, Pedrosa 57, Melandri 54, Stoner 52, Rossi 40, Elias 37, Edwards 35, Nakano 28, Gibernau 25, Tamada 24, Hopkins 20.