Spain's Dani Pedrosa claimed the 50th Grand Prix win of his career Sunday, taking victory in the Japanese MotoGP as runner-up Valentino Rossi extended his lead in the championship standings. Pedrosa, who almost quit the sport earlier this year because of an arm problem that needed surgery, grabbed the lead seven laps from the end of a wet race at the Twin Ring circuit in Motegi. He surged clear of his rivals to win for the first time this season and the 50th of his career, which began in the 125cc class in 2001. Rossi finished second while his Yamaha team mate and championship rival Jorge Lorenzo faded to third after leading for most of the race until he had dropped back when having tire problems. Rossi now leads Lorenzo by 18 points in the standings with a maximum of 75 available from the remaining three rounds, in Australia, Malaysia and Valencia. Sunday's race was delayed by heavy morning rain in Japan which forced organisers to shorten the Moto2 and Moto3 races but Lorenzo was all smiles at the end of a long day. Johann Zarco celebrated his first Moto2 title by winning his seventh race of the season. The Frenchman was already assured of winning the championship when Tito Rabat, the only other rider with any mathematical chance of overtaking him, withdrew from Motegi on Friday because of injury. The race was cut to 15 laps because of the foul weather. Jonas Folger, a two-time winner this season, held on for second ahead of his fellow German Sandro Cortese, who claimed his first podium finish this year. Italy's Niccolo Antonelli won the Moto3 race, which was reduced from 20 to 13 laps, while Britain's Danny Kent extended his championship lead to 56 points. Antonelli made a flying start on his Honda and led all the way, capturing his second race win this year. Miguel Oliveira finished second and Jorge Navarro third while Kent was sixth but still managed to stretch his lead by finishing ahead of his nearest title rival, Enea Bastianini. De Angelis suffers brain bleeding Alex de Angelis is in "critical condition" with bleeding inside his brain after a practice crash on the eve of the Japan GP, a race doctor said Sunday. The San Marino rider is sedated in the intensive care unit of Dokkyo Medical University Hospital following the crash in the fourth free practice session Saturday. An MRI scan showed the brain haemorrhage, said Michele Zasa, doctor with Clinica Mobile. — Agencies
