Casey Stoner took a further step toward his second MotoGP world title with an impressive win in the Grand Prix of Aragon in Spain Sunday.
The Australian powered his Repsol Honda to a pole to finish line victory, his eighth of a dominant season with his teammate Dani Pedrosa of Spain in second place.
Reigning world champion Jorge Lorenzo finished third at the Motorland circuit on his Yamaha and now trails Stoner by 44 points with just four races left of the season.
Stoner had slipped to third behind Lorenzo after starting from pole in the previous round in San Marino, but made no mistake this time after recovering from an indifferent start .
"I wanted to get to the front as soon as possible as the bike has been working perfect all weekend and it was our race to lose, so I tried to get in front and pull a gap," he told the official MotoGP website.
Lorenzo was content with his podium position which kept his slim title hopes still alive.
"We are still fighting for the championship and that's the most important thing, we are going to Japan (Motegi GP) with hope still alive," he said.
Marco Simoncelli took fourth with American Ben Spies, who briefly led, back in fifth.
Simoncelli's fellow Italian Andrea Dovizioso crashed out on the first lap while Valentino Rossi struggled to 10th of 13 finishers on his Ducati.
Stoner was with Ducati when he won his first world title in 2007.
Home pair Marc Marquez and Nicolas Terol won the supporting Moto2 and 125cc races.
Aragon MotoGP result:
1. Casey Stoner (Aus) Repsol Honda 42'17.427
2. Dani Pedrosa (Spn) Repsol Honda 42'25.589
3. Jorge Lorenzo (Spn) Yamaha 42'31.636
4. Marco Simoncelli (Ita) Gresini Honda 42'38.073
5. Ben Spies (USA) Yamaha 42'45.166
6. Alvaro Bautista (Spn) Suzuki 42'47.800
7. Nicky Hayden (USA) Ducati 42'51.715
8. Hector Barbera (Spn) Aspar Ducati 42'54.732
9. Cal Crutchlow (GBR) Tech 3 Yamaha 42'57.079
10. Valentino Rossi (Ita) Ducati 42'57.424
Moto2 race result:
1. Marc Marquez (Spn) Suter 40'20.575
2. Andrea Iannone (Ita) Suter 40'23.041
3. Simone Corsi (Ita) FTR 40'23.149
4. Alex De Angelis (RSM) Motobi 40'23.629
5. Aleix Espargaro (Spn) Pons Kalex 40'31.406
6. Bradley Smith (GBR) Tech 3 40'31.445
125cc race result:
1. Nicolas Terol (Spn) Aprilia 40'26.726
2. Johann Zarco (Fra) Derbi 40'33.497
3. Maverick Vinales (Spa) Aprilia 40'45.655
4. Efren Vazquez (Spa) Derbi 40'54.198
5. Luis Salom (Spa) Aprilia 40'54.195
6. Danny Kent (GBR) Aprilia 40'54.476