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Elias claims maiden MotoGP victory

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ESTORIL, Portugal -- Honda's Toni Elias stormed from behind title contender Valentino Rossi to win the Portuguese MotoGP on the final lap on Sunday -- his first ever race victory.

Rossi's second place allowed the world champion to snatch the championship lead from American Nicky Hayden, who crashed on the fifth lap of the Estoril circuit.

An angry Hayden cursed after team-mate Dani Pedrosa crashed into him on a left curve and both riders fell. Hayden was in third place with Pedrosa fourth at the time of the crash.

Former champion Kenny Roberts was third, riding a Honda-powered KR211V.

"Today was a good day for me. I can't believe I won the race," said Elias after his first MotorGP victory.

"It was a great race," said Rossi. "For sure victory would be better but with Nicky's crash we are now ahead with eight points and will concentrate in Valencia which I think will be a very good last round."

Rossi's seventh podium finish in Portugal is sure to bolster his confidence before the last race of the season in Valencia on October 29. The world champion now leads with 244 points while Hayden sits in second with 236 points.

In the 250cc class Italian Andrea Dovizioso won in a seesaw race that takes the outcome of the world title to the final meeting of the season.

The Honda rider's victory surprised favorite Jorge Lorenzo who was expected to clinch the world crown in Portugal.

The Spanish teenager managed only fifth place and his 27 point lead over Dovizioso narrowed to 13 points.

"I'm happy but I had some problems with my visor and I didn't see anything," said Dovizioso after the race.

Japan's Hiroshi Aoyama finished second in a KTM while Aprilia's San Marino rider Alex de Angelis was third.

The victory gave Dovizioso 25 points as he moved on to a total of 263 points behind Lorenzo who has 276 points.

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