Race

Simoncelli and Dovizioso are now locked in a battle for fourth - the two riders who were hit with ride through penalties are going head-to-head at the end of this race.

And he's there! Edwards just hasn't been able to hold off riders today, but could still grab a top 10 finish.

Spies is right on the tail of Edwards - he's recovered so well from that early problem, could be up to seventh shortly.

Just 13 riders still left in this race - spate of retirements - and there's still a quarter of the distance left!

Oh no! Elias is out as well! He'd been having a stunner, too - quietly up to sixth! Nasty crash into turn 5, which has caught out several riders.

Stoner is not taking undue risks here - he's not attempting to slice down the gap to Lorenzo. Pedrosa, Lorenzo and Stoner all looking (for the time being) very comfortable in their on-track positions.

And as I type that, pictures show Crutchlow almost losing it pushing too hard into a corner - so no sign that the Brit is giving up on this one.

That's all lifted Crutchlow, who is running alone in 14th, back into the points positions.

And another! A good day for Bautista has come to an unsatisfactory end - he's crashed on the straight.

Retirement! Cudlin loses his concentration for a moment and he's off the track - that's cost him 14th place.

So as it stands, the leaderboard looks like this: Pedrosa, Lorenzo, Stoner, Bautista, Dovizioso, Simoncelli, Elias, Aoyama...

The margin between the two is holding steady at the moment. Meanwhile Pedrosa has pulled out a couple of seconds on Lorenzo, so has a little breathing room at the front.

Stoner up to third! The gap now 10 seconds to Lorenzo - is that too much to bridge in the second half of the race?

Meanwhile Pedrosa has just put in the fastest lap of the race.

And Hayden's lap goes from bad to worse - tries to follow Stoner to the same breaking point, but his Ducati doesn't behave like Stoner's Honda and he goes wide - so he won't just lose fourth place, he'll struggle to keep fifth...

Not long! Stoner squeezes through the narrowest of gaps to get ahead - terrific move and one which lifts him to fourth!

Stoner has got himself on the back wheel of Hayden, with Bautista not far beyond. How long can Hayden hold him off?

Make that seventh! He's powered past a lacklustre Edwards and then Aoyama soon after!

Great midfield battle brewing where Dovizioso is trying to make progress - he's up to ninth already.

As we reach one-third of the way past this race Pedrosa has a half-second lead on Lorenzo - Bautista and Hayden some way back down the track. Stoner, just put in a lap four-tenths slower than Lorenzo further down the field.

Pedrosa and Lorenzo competing at the front? It's just like last year! Stoner making up ground though - he's back up to fifth, chasing Hayden.

All played into Bautista's hands in the Suzuki - he's up to third! Will Suzuki put out two bikes next year?

The riders who are penalised have to come through within three laps for their ride through penalty or they are black-flagged - here they come.

Some extraordinary drama to begin this race - great for the championship. Dovizioso is currently leading, but yet to go in for his penalty. Pedrosa will be ahead when it comes through.

Stoner! Huge wobble for the Australian and he can't find his breaking point - he's slid off track and is down to 7th!

Oh dear! Crutchlow - who jumped up to 9th at the start - has been penalised for a jump start. Ride through penalty - and Simoncelli and Dovizioso too!

Barbera out too! He slid off and he's being lifted off as a precaution by stretcher.

A dramatic start, but it's left everything open for Stoner, who's cruising at the front. Dovizioso up to second.

And the same for Rossi, who collides with Lorenzo - but the Italian's race is over!

Early trouble! Spies is off the track - but somehow gets back into the action!

Away we go at Motegi!