Casey Stoner took the honors in the Italian MotoGP Grand Prix on Sunday to move top of the standings and end Valentino Rossi's long reign at his home race. The Australian Ducati rider, who started second on the grid, held his nerve on the 23 laps after riders had to switch bikes when rainy skies cleared and new tires were needed. Previous championship leader Jorge Lorenzo, who fell in practice and made a terrible start from pole position, recovered to finish second on his Yamaha and now trails Stoner by four points. World champ Rossi, who had been bidding for an eighth straight win in Italy, came in third after changing to hard tires with 13 laps to go rather than softs like many rivals. Rossi lies third overall, nine behind Stoner after just five rounds. The next race in the Catalan MotoGP on June 14. Spain's Dani Pedrosa, dogged by injuries of late, suffered another fall and was taken away on a stretcher. Italian Mattia Pasini on an Aprilia triumphed in the 250cc class as he just managed to hold off compatriot and last year's champion Marco Simoncelli. Britain's Bradley Smith won the 125cc race to take over at the top of the standings.
