Jorge Lorenzo came second with Yamaha colleague Rossi third but Dani Pedrosa, who was injured in qualifying, was taken off on a stretcher after a crash.

BBC: Stoner triumphs in Mugello epic

VALENCE, France -- Sebastien Loeb held a 10.6 seconds lead after the third day of the Rally of Monte Carlo but his Citroen team mate Dani Sordo was forced to retire with turbo problems.

CNN: Loeb holds rally lead as Sordo quits

The Spaniard lost his crown to Casey Stoner last year but tops this season's standings by 23 points from Honda's Dani Pedrosa with five wins and four second-placings from 10 of the 18 races so far.

CNN: Lorenzo welcomes MotoGP rival Rossi back to Yamaha