Canny Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda RC212V) rode with both pace and calculation to make the most of a Portuguese Grand Prix in which he had to watch his bitterest rival Jorge Lorenzo take the win with Valentino Rossi third (both Yamaha). Lorenzo and Dani now jointly lead the world standings.

What first appeared as if it might be one of the next firecracker races of this intriguing 2008 season eventually turned into a first premier class win for Lorenzo. But a solid ride for points for Dani who, despite his fierce rivalry with Lorenzo, knows when to take the points and when to take the fight, was reward enough today for Honda.

Dani, as he has tended to do this season, stormed away from the line to lead the horde into turn one. Rossi was on his tail and lightning-starter Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda RC212V) was up with the action. Lorenzo, from pole, too.

Rossi barged past Dani to take the lead, but Lorenzo was anxious to make the speed he’d established as fastest man during qualifying translate into a race-dominating stint. Rossi and Lorenzo then turned to disputing the lead among themselves while Dani watched, waiting.

As the early laps passed without incident it became clear the front four of Rossi, Lorenzo, Pedrosa and the increasingly impressive Andrea Dovizioso (JiR Scot Honda RC212V) were in charge. They left the green-liveried form of John Hopkins (Kawasaki) in their wake while it first appeared he might be able to hold onto the front-runners.

And it was Lorenzo knew he had the speed to make a pace that would establish himself as the man to make the running. His pass at the tricky uphill chicane to deprive Rossi of the lead was perfectly timed and expertly executed. He ghosted past the former World Champion to work on making catch-up virtually impossible for the pursuers.

Dani did all he possibly could to reel in his rival but while Honda’s main man was grafting hard his cohorts were struggling. Nicky Hayden fell mid-race while holding fourth. Dovi preceded him when a good result was in his grasp by falling on lap 12. These DNFs were unfortunate but demonstrated the undoubted efforts these Honda men will surely soon translate into solid results.

By lap 18 Lorenzo had a one second advantage over Dani and during this 28-lap contest over the 4.182km of Estoril not even the changeable weather, that at times threatened to curtail the 250cc race prior to the main event, could put Lorenzo’s maiden win in doubt.

With three laps to go Lorenzo had established a 1.693 second lead and Pedrosa was never going to act rashly enough to derail his title points challenge in risking a second place finish in pursuit of a one lost cause in an 18-race series.

Rossi’s third-place finish keeps him in the early season title hunt but with Lorenzo and Pedrosa sharing a 61-point each haul after three rounds (Lorenzo technically ahead by virtue of his win being the most recent win), his 41-point tally in third at this early juncture must hint that these Spanish stars are now to upset the old order.