Dani Pedrosa put one over fellow Spaniards Marc Marquez and Jorge Lorenzo by winning their home race at Jerez on Sunday.

It was Pedrosa’s first victory of the season and the first time that the Repsol Honda rider had finished in front of rookie team-mate Marquez.

The result at this third round of 18 also moved Pedrosa into second in the world championship, between Marquez and Lorenzo.

Pedrosa briefly overtook pole sitter Lorenzo (Yamaha) at turn one of the grand prix, held in front of a massive 111,000 strong crowd, only for the Yamaha rider to snatch the lead straight back.

Having stalked Lorenzo for half a dozen laps in the tyre-sapping heat, Pedrosa out-braked the reigning world champion at the end of the back straight and rode to safe 2.5s victory.

“It feels amazing to win here and obviously for the championship it is good,” said Pedrosa.

“It was a hard weekend because I think the tyres on offer here were a little on the soft side. We never really found the perfect settings but I think everyone was struggling.

“It was a smart race – I had to push throughout but also take care of the tyres. I think everyone was struggling with the same issue, but the bike was working well and I could manage the gap and control towards the end.

“Now it’s been three races. I can feel more about what the bike likes and what I need for the rest of the championship. We are going to start to work on that.

“But just an amazing feeling today. Especially seeing all the fans in the stands; this year we’ve had a lot of people come to watch this grand prix.

“I also want to say ‘Happy Mothers’ Day’ to my mum and thanks to all my team. I want to enjoy a little and then tomorrow we have a test. We’ll try some settings. I don’t think we have any new items.”

While Pedrosa pulled clear, Lorenzo and Marquez fought over second place, with Marquez bumping past Lorenzo at the very last turn.

The result means that Marquez now leads the standings by three-points from Pedrosa, with Lorenzo one-point further back. Each of the trip has won one race so far this year.

Results from round three at Jerez:

1. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 45m 17.632s
2. Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 45m 20.119s
3. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Yamaha Factory Racing (YZR-M1) 45m 22.721s
4. Valentino Rossi ITA Yamaha Factory Racing (YZR-M1) 45m 26.546s
5. Cal Crutchlow GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1) 45m 30.295s
6. Alvaro Bautista ESP Go&Fun Honda Gresini (RC213V) 45m 32.726s
7. Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Team (GP13) 45m 43.264s
8. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (GP13) 45m 59.513s
9. Aleix Espargaro ESP Power Electronics Aspar (ART CRT) 46m 1.444s
10. Bradley Smith GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1) 46m 2.093s
11. Michele Pirro ITA Ducati Test Team (GP13) 46m 3.606s
12. Hector Barbera ESP Avintia Blusens (FTR-Kawasaki CRT) 46m 17.491s
13. Michael Laverty GBR Paul Bird Motorsport (PBM CRT)* 46m 27.375s
14. Danilo Petrucci ITA Came IodaRacing Project (Suter-BMW CRT)* 46m 35.445s
15. Colin Edwards USA NGM Forward Racing (FTR-Kawasaki CRT)* 46m 35.809s
16. Bryan Staring AUS Go&Fun Honda Gresini (FTR-Honda CRT)* 46m 36.560s
17. Claudio Corti ITA NGM Forward Racing (FTR-Kawasaki CRT)* 46m 36.939s
18. Hiroshi Aoyama JPN Avintia Blusens (FTR-Kawasaki CRT)* 46m 37.089s
DNF:
Stefan Bradl GER LCR Honda MotoGP (RC213V)
Andrea Iannone ITA Energy T.I. Pramac Racing (GP13)
Lukas Pesek CZE Came IodaRacing Project (Suter-BMW CRT)*
Randy De Puniet FRA Power Electronics Aspar (ART CRT)
Yonny Hernandez COL Paul Bird Motorsport (ART CRT)
* Standard ECU.

Championship standings: