AFP MISANO, Italy — Seven-time world champion Valentino Rossi won the San Marino Grand Prix yesterday ahead of team-mate Jorge Lorenzo and Spaniard Toni Elias.

The victory allowed the Italian to equal compatriot Giacomo Agostini's record of 68 victories in the top Moto GP category.

Rossi, who was born just 10km away at Tavullia, revealed that Agostini had wished him well ahead of the race.

“These last few days I saw that Agostini was a little unhappy; today though I saw him smile; he came to greet me, wished me well and I won,” said the Italian star.

The victory stretched the Yamaha rider's lead in the world championship standings to 75 points with just five races left.

Pole-sitter and reigning world champion Casey Stoner of Australia crashed out on lap six while leading, handing Rossi a clear run to victory.

“We have a 75-point lead which means that up to now we've been very strong, we've never let up, and more than everything we've kept our heads held high even during difficulties,” said Rossi, who has finished runner-up in each of the last two seasons.

“This year I told myself that to beat Stoner we needed the best Valentino. I tried to bring him out. Although you're never sure to find him, I think I've found him and I'm happy.”

Stoner remains second in the world championship race but just two points ahead of Spain's Dani Pedrosa after the Honda Repsol rider finished fourth.

The Australian had flown off the start line and built up a lead of three seconds by the end of the second lap.

Pedrosa had the quickest start and went from sixth to second within the first few corners, leaving Rossi frustrated in being unable to challenge Stoner from the start.

But the little Spaniard didn't have the pace to hold off Rossi, who was soon up to second and chasing down Stoner.

The Australian made life easy for his main rival, though, by skidding off the track all on his own.

“I got away well but Pedrosa overtook me and I lost a lot of time,” said Rossi.

“Stoney was flying, then I got back up to my (starting) place, I saw him fall and then things went well for me.”

Rossi then coasted to victory with Spaniard Lorenzo overtaking his countryman Pedrosa before the Honda rider was relegated to third amongst his kinsmen as Elias also sailed past.

In the 250cc race Spaniard Alvaro Bautista, a former world champion at 125cc, won ahead of Japan's Yuki Takahashi with compatriot Hector Barbera in third.

Italian Marco Simoncelli still leads the standings despite falling when in third place, before rising to finish sixth.

Reigning champion Gabor Talmacsi of Hungary led an Aprilia 1-2-3 finish in the 125cc race ahead of Britain's Bradley Smith and Italy's Simone Corsi.

Corsi stays second in the standings behind Frenchman Mike Di Meglio, who failed to finish.

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