Reigning world champion Valentino Rossi took home his first win of the 2009 MotoGP season at the Gran Premio bwin.com de España on Sunday, beating home Dani Pedrosa to the line by a 2.7 seconds in front of a huge Spanish crowd.

Dani Pedrosa had led for the first half of the race in what is becoming a Pedrosa trademark, however Valentino Rossi wrestled the lead with ten laps to go and from that point never looked, The victory now gives the Italian a 11 point lead in the overall standings.

The podium was completed by Ducati rider Casey Stoner, who trailed Rossi by 10 seconds, the Australian rider has now moved into second place in the championship, this was Casey Stoner's first podium appearance at the southern Spanish track.

Rossi's team mate Fiat Yamaha’s Jorge Lorenzo managed to loose control riding in fourth place with three laps to go and crashed out.

Excellent performance by Randy de Puniet, meanwhile, saw the Frenchman bring his LCR Honda satellite machine across the line in an outstanding fourth place, having qualified in fifth, to give himself a confidence boost ahead of his home GP in two weeks time at Le Mans.

Also worth mentioning was the race from Marco Melandri, fifth place bringing in a nice bag of points, the former Ducati and Honda rider improving on his good result from last weekend in Japan for the Kawasaki-equipped Hayate Racing team.

Rizla Suzuki’s Loris Capirossi rode well from sixth on the grid, to come home in the same position, this meant that five different manufacturers were represented in the top six.

Monster Tech Yamaha’s Colin Edwards finsihed up in seventh, whilst Andrea Dovizioso did well to finish eighth in his third ride for the factory Repsol Honda team having left the track at one stage. Toni Elías was the second of the Spaniards in ninth for the San Carlo Honda Gresini team, with the top ten completed by Australia's own Suzuki rider Chris Vermeulen.

Former title contender Sete Gibernau finished 11th for the Grupo Francisco Hernando team in his return at Jerez, whilst 2006 World Champion Nicky Hayden of Ducati continues to struggle crossing the line in 15th place.

The MotoGP stars continue the European season at the Grand Prix de France in a fortnight’s time.