Rossi pips Lorenzo in Catalan thriller

MADRID (Reuters) - World champion Valentino Rossi won a thrilling duel with Jorge Lorenzo to win the Catalan MotoGP on Sunday, squeezing past his Yamaha team mate on the final corner to snatch his second victory of 2009.

Spaniard Lorenzo started from pole with Rossi in second and the pair swapped the lead several times at a sweltering Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona before the Italian timed his final charge to perfection.

After six races in the 17-race season, Rossi and Lorenzo are tied on 106 points in the overall standings with Australian Ducati rider Casey Stoner, who came in third on Sunday.

Rossi, 30, a six times MotoGP champion, used all his experience to see off the challenge from the 22-year-old Lorenzo and deny him victory on his home circuit. It was his 99th career victory in all categories.

"It was a fantastic battle," Rossi said at a news conference.

"The Yamahas were flying, we got away from the field and I quickly saw that it would be between Jorge and I," he added.

"The final lap was incredible, with two or three incredible braking manoeuvres, and I didn't know whether I could overtake on the last corner but I went for it."

Lorenzo said he had not expected Rossi to attempt to pass him at the death and conceded that the Italian rider had been more courageous and deserved the win.

"He's an old dog and I wasn't intelligent enough to anticipate his move but it's fine.