MOTOR SPORT:World championship leader Casey Stoner dominated from start to finish on his Ducati to win the Czech Grand Prix yesterday and widen his lead in the overall standings.

The victory at the undulating 5.4km Masaryk Ring was the Australian's seventh of 12 races this season.

American John Hopkins, who started from the front row, led his Suzuki unchallenged to claim second place, trailing Stoner by 7.903 seconds. Hopkins's compatriot and world champion Nicky Hayden shrugged off some disappointing practice sessions to clinch third place, a further 5.197 seconds behind.

With six races to go, Stoner leads the championship with 246 points. He has extended the gap to 60 points over seven-times world champion Valentino Rossi, who finished seventh on a Yamaha at his favourite track, 22.485 seconds behind the winner. The Italian had snatched three wins and three second-place finishes out of previous seven starts on the Brno track, as well as wins in the 125cc and 250cc classes.

Hayden's Spanish team-mate Dani Pedrosa, who was fourth on a Honda, is the third overall with 168 points, closing on Rossi.

The next race is in San Marino on September 2nd.