Vermeulen gains maiden MotoGP win at Le Mans

0 Comments | AFP, May, 2007

LE MANS, France (AFP) — Australian Chris Vermeulen on a Suzuki overcame heavy rain to win the French Grand Prix here on Sunday ahead of Italian Marco Melandri and Australian championship leader Casey Stoner.

The rain caused havoc with the race and there were six different leaders throughout the 28 laps, by the end of which the course was flooded.

American Colin Edwards started on pole for the first time in his career but messed up his start and had to change bikes twice before eventually finishing 12th and last, three laps down on Vermeulen.

Stoner led from the start but was passed by seven-time world champion Italian Valentino Rossi on the first lap.

He was later passed by Vermeulen, Melandri and American John Hopkins and late on he dropped down to...