Rossi fails to win season opener for 1st time in six years (ANSA) - Jerez, March 27 - For the first time in six years Valentino Rossi did not win the opening MotoGp race of the season, but the Italian flag still flew highest on the podium thanks to Loris Capirossi and his Ducati .

Capirossi's win did not come as a surprise because the Ducati has been the bike to beat after running the fastest in pre-season tests during the winter .

The Italian rider, who turns 34 in two weeks, easily grabbed pole position for the Spanish Grand Prix, breaking the track record set by Rossi last year, and his new teammate, Spain's Sete Gibernau, was right next to him in the second spot .

Gibernau was the fastest in the pre-race warm up but dropped out in the 25th lap .


Sunday was Capirossi's fourth win for Ducati, since he joined the Italian team on its return to Grand Prix racing in 2003, and his seventh pole position .

Rossi wiped out at the start of the race after a corner collision with Toni Elias's Honda, but got back on his Yamaha and ended 14th, picking up two points .

Elias came in fourth, just ahead of Marco Melandri, who won the final two races last season. The real surprise on Sunday was newcomer Daniel Pedrosa, who came in second in his debut MotoGP race ahead of his Honda teammate Nicky Hayden .

The 20-year-old Spanish sensation, who has become the new local hero, moved up to the MotoGP class after winning the last two 250cc titles and the 125cc championship in 2003 .

Speaking on his chances of winning his sixth straight MotoGP title, Rossi admitted that Pedrosa would be the rider who would give him the most trouble .

"Up until a few months ago I would have said Melandri was the greatest threat to my title hopes. But today I'd have to say Dani Pedrosa is," the seven-time world champion said .

During the post-race press conference, Capirossi said "In the end, I think our preparation paid off. We had the perfect bike and the perfect tire for the job" .

Looking ahead to the rest of the season, Capirossi observed "I think I have a shot at the title because I believe in this Ducati and I believe in myself, but it's still too early" .

Rossi's crash after the start "made this race particular. The championship is still centered around him, Valentino remains the favorite to win the title," he added .

Rossi admitted he was disappointed "but ever since we got to Jerez it's been a nightmare. We never could find the right set up and without the crash I think the best I could have done was to make it to the podium" .

"Capirossi and Pedrosa were too fast for me. At this point all we can do is work hard and get our problems solved. For the first time in six years it's not me in the lead and now I'll have to catch up," he added .

Rossi did not blame Elias for the crash saying "these things happen in races. He apologised after the race and I told him that if he ever did that again, he had better hit someone else". The Spanish Grand Prix was a boon for Italian motorbike producers with Ducati first in the MotGP class and Aprilia running the winning bikes in the 250cc and 125cc classes, respectively with Spain's Jorge Lorenzo and Alvaro Bautista .