Stoner edges Lorenzo to win Spanish Moto GP

World Moto GP champion Casey Stoner won the Spanish Grand Prix for the first time Sunday after holding off Jorge Lorenzo in a close race.

Wet weather had red flagged the preceding Moto2 race but held off with Stoner eventually passing pole sitter Lorenzo. The Spanish Yamaha rider — chasing his third straight Jerez Circuit victory — stayed on Stoner’s back wheel over the final laps but failed to overtake the Australian.

Lorenzo leads Honda rider Stoner by four points in the overall standings. Honda’s Dani Pedrosa is nine points behind Lorenzo after finishing third on Sunday.

Pol Espargaro edged Spanish rival Marc Marquez in the rain-shortened Moto2 race, while Romano Fenati won a slippery, crash-marred Moto3 race.